Author: Chronicle Editor

Former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will remain in Kuje Prison because the judgement of the Supreme Court did not state that he be released. The apex court, it was learnt, did not issue any order for Kalu’s release because he did not file any application for such. The judgement only covers the appellant, Mr. Ude Jones Udeogu, who challenged the propriety of a Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris to try him. The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Correctional Service Mr. Jaafar Ahmed, has also refused to release Kalu because there was no order for such action…

Nigeria has put in place policies to ensure foreign investors that want to repatriate funds can exit the country in an orderly fashion, Central Bank of Nigeria said on Sunday. Foreign investors have sold Nigerian assets at an accelerated pace since February as lockdowns to curb the coronavirus pandemic have stalled economic activity and triggered a crash in the price of oil, Nigeria’s main export. That has put pressure on the naira currency and foreign exchange reserves. Nigeria’s dollar reserve has declined 24% to $34 billion over the last year. Last week, the central bank weakened the naira currency on…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that it is investigating the arrest of a shawarma seller, Mnena Ato in Makurdi, Benue state. The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to reports of a recent arrest made by its officers at a pastry firm in Makurdi, Benue State, involving Ms Mnena Ato, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Star Shawarma. The Commission has commenced investigations into the circumstances of her arrest and would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all facts related to the arrest are unearthed. Orji Kalu: EFCC reacts,…

Givefood.ng, a coalition of partners tackling the feeding challenge triggered by the lockdown imposed to arrest the spread of COVID-19, has distributed 10,000 meals in Kano state. According to a statement issued by the coalition on Monday, the 10,000 meals were distributed in Kano in the first 24 hours of its operation in the state. The coalition explained that it decided to expand emergency food relief programme to Kano State to tackle the feeding challenge faced by the vulnerable class, following the two-week lockdown imposed by the Federal Government to stem the tide of COVID-19 cases in the state. Speaking…

Bauchi State residents are alleging massive deaths from a ‘strange ailment’ in Azare, headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the state. About 301 people are feared dead in the last two weeks in the area, according to residents. Some residents believe the strange ailment is coronavirus although the state government says the matter has been exaggerated. Deputy Governor Baba Tela told reporters that the situation in the Azare was being blown out of proportion by those who don’t reside in the state. A former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba, in a May 8, 2020 letter…

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers has announced the temporary lifting of lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas for two days only, with effect from Tuesday 12th May 2020. Governor Wike made the announcement in a State-Wide broadcast last night. He said that the total lockdown will be lifted on Tuesday 12th May, 2020 and Wednesday, 13th May, 2020. Governor Wike said the temporary lifting of the lockdown is for residents to restock foodstuffs and medicines to their homes. Governor Wike said that the lockdown will be reinstated on Thursday, 14th May, 2020. He said: “Consequently, we have…

The government of Madagascar has sent some of its herbal drug for coronavirus to Nigeria and other African countries, government sources say. The COVID Organics (COV) is a drug for prevention and possibly cure of coronavirus that has killed over 100 in Nigeria. Nigeria’s consignment has been sent through the Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja, The Nation said. For ease of transportation, African countries were divided into zones leading to the freighting of Nigeria’s consignments to Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria’s COVID-19 positive tally moved to 4,399 last night with 248 new cases announced by the Nigeria…

Outrage and widespread condemnation have greeted the demolition of two hotels on Sunday by the Rivers State government in Port Harcourt for allegedly flouting the lockdown rules. Prodest Hotel Alode in Eleme and Edemeteh Hotel in Onne were two hotels that reportedly contravened the order. They were pulled down. Activists, lawyers and opinion leaders in the state faulted the action, which Governor Nyesom Wike personally supervised as “unfair.” Wike had vowed to pull down hotels found to be rendering services and buildings whose shops opened for business during the lockdown. The government also declared wanted Princewill Osaroejiji, owner of Etemeteh…

A district head in the northern state of Kano, Dan’iya of Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Bayero, is dead, it was reported on Sunday night. The late Bayero was the district head of Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area. As at the time of filing this report, the cause of death was not ascertained. He is expected to be buried on Monday according to Islamic rites. High profile personalities have died in Kano since the coronavirus pandemic hit the state in April. The state government has however stated that most of the deaths were unconnected to the virus. On Sunday, the Nigeria Centre…

Saudi Arabia is suspending the cost of living allowance and raising the value added tax (VAT) threefold, as part of measures aimed at shoring up state finances, battered by low oil prices and a severe coronavirus-driven slowdown. “The cost of living allowance will be suspended as of June 1, and the value added tax will be increased to 15% from 5% as of July 1,” the state news agency reported in a statement on Monday. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter is suffering from slumping prices, while at the same time measures to fight the new coronavirus are likely…