Author: Chronicle Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 arraigned the duo of Victor Anasiudu and Olaoye Olanrenwaju Daniel before Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on five-count separate charges, bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N3,380,000.00 (Three Million Three Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira). The defendants were arrested by the EFCC following a petition in which it was alleged that sometime in 2019, the defendants approached their victim with a business proposal to supply them 20 pieces of tricycle (Keke NAPEP)…

Senate President Ahmad Lawan said on Tuesday that the investigation being carried out by the Senate into the finances of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is to complement the ongoing forensic audit which was ordered by the Federal government. Lawan stated this while inaugurating a seven-man adhoc committee on alleged financial recklessness in the NDDC. “We are in total support of the President’s directive for the forensic audit of the finances of the NDDC, and this is, in some way, complimentary to that directive,” he said. The investigation, he said would avail the management of the Commission an opportunity…

The Sokoto Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested two Chinese: Mr. Meng Wei Kun and Mr. Xu Koi for offering a sum of N50million (Fifty Million Naira) each as bribe to its Zonal Head, Mr. Abdullahi Lawal. The suspects were arrested on Monday, May 11, 2020 in Sokoto. The bribe was allegedly offered in a desperate bid to compromise ongoing investigations of a construction company, China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd, handling contracts awarded by the Zamfara State Government to the tune of N50billion (Fifty Billion Naira) between 2012 to 2019. The zonal office of the…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has sworn-in eight new judges after their confirmation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on Tuesday. The newly appointed judges of the State High Court took their Oath of Office, presided by Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Executive Council Chamber, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. Announcing their swearing in, Governor Sanwo-Olu charged them to remain a true beacon of hope for the common man. “To deepen the dispensation of justice in our state, today, I swore-in eight new Judges to strengthen our High Court following their confirmation by the National Judicial Council. Sanwo-Olu: Total lockdown to happen…

The Senate on Tuesday considered a critical bill which seeks to boost advanced healthcare service delivery in Nigeria to act as safeguard and response to medical emergency in the future. The piece of legislation sponsored by Senator Sandy Onor (PDP – Cross River Central), seeks to establish the Advanced Healthcare Development Fund. Leading debate on the bill during plenary, the lawmaker who bemoaned the healthcare system in the country, said same was inadequate to meet the needs of Nigerians. According to him, “the current state of tertiary healthcare in Nigeria can only be described as grossly inadequate and unable to…

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Professor Agboola Gambari as his new Chief Of Staff following the demise of Mallam Abba Kyari. He is a Nigerian scholar and a diplomat having served a Minister for external affairs between 1984 and 1985. According to sources close to the President, the 76-year old Gambari was picked after a rigourous selection process by the Presidency. An official statement on his appointment is yet to be made by the Presidency as at the time of filing this report. The Presidency is expected to officially make the announcement on Wednesday. Gambari was appointed by the secretary-general…

The Senate on Tuesday received a formal request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of 42 career Ambassadors-designate. The request which was contained in a letter dated May 6, 2020, was read on the floor during plenary by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan. The letter reads: “In accordance to section 171 (1),(2)(c) and subsection (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed forty-two (42) names of nominees as Career Ambassadors-Designate.” The Ambassadors-designate for confirmation are: C.O Nwachukwu, Abia; A. Kafas, Adamawa;…

Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, May 11, 2020, ordered the interim forfeiture of N510 million, belonging to Vice Air Marshal Uko Etim Obong, in an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The Commission’s application for interim forfeiture was pursuant to Section 44 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. EFCC’s intelligence scooped the money stashed in Sterling Bank and discreet investigation revealed it was a proceed of unlawful activities, traced to AVM Obong. It could be recalled that AVM Obong was the Commander of…

The Senate on Tuesday received President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the confirmation of Professor Jumai Audi, as a Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission. Also to be confirmed are: Hon. Ebele Bernard Chima, Commissioner, South East; Barr. Bassey Dan Abia, Commissioner, South-South; and Hon. Mohammed Ibraheem, Commissioner, South-West. The letter from the President requesting the confirmation of the nominees reads: “In compliance with the provision of section 2(2) of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act No. 7 of 199, I wrote to forward to the Senate for confirmation the under-listed (4)names of nominees as Chairman and full-time members of…

The Osun and Jigawa state governments have confirmed new cases of doctors and health workers testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Sunday, released COVID-19 new cases with Osun State having one. In a statement on Monday in Osogbo, the state capital, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ismail Omipidan, Health Commissioner Dr Rafiu Isamotu said: “With the new case recorded, it brings to four the number of active cases in the state as at today (Monday, May 11, 2020). “The state, yesterday (Sunday), recorded another case of the COVID-19. He is a…