Author: Chronicle Editor

South Africa is holding a week of events to mark the passing of the anti-apartheid leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who died on Sunday aged 90. The plans include two days of lying in state before an official state funeral on 1 January in Cape Town. Tributes have been pouring in from leaders around the world, including Queen Elizabeth II, US President Joe Biden, Pope Francis and Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari. Desmond Tutu was one of the country’s best known figures at home and abroad. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement that Tutu had helped bring about “a…

The Imo State Police Command has debunked reports that Uche Nwosu, the son in-law of Senator Rochas Okorocha was not abducted rather he was arrested. The police in a terse statement on Sunday by CSP Michael Abattam said Nwosu is in police custody. “This is to inform the general public that chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in police custody. “This is to refute the earlier news that has being making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by…

Nigerian troops on Sunday arrested a notorious leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast state of Enugu. The director, Nigerian Army public relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement said arms and ammunitions were recovered during the arrest. “Troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army (NA) in conjunction with other security agencies while conducting Exercise GOLDEN DAWN have arrested one Godwin Nnamdi, a notorious leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra( IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Nkanu East Local Government Area. The IPOB leader was arrested during joint clearance operations at a camp…

Second half substitute Romelu Lukaku scored one and won Chelsea a penalty as they beat Aston Villa 3-1 at Villa Park to keep pace with league leaders, Manchester City. Jorginho scored Chelsea’s other goals from the penalty spot as they fought back from a goal down to beat Aston Villa and move level on points with second-placed Liverpool. Villa had taken a fortunate lead in the 28th minute when Matt Targett’s whipped cross from the left was met by Chelsea defender Reece James and his glancing header diverted the ball past Edouard Mendy and into the net for an own…

Tottenham scored twice in two first-half minutes to set up a victory over Crystal Palace and keep up the pressure on the Premier League top four. Harry Kane opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games, before Lucas Moura doubled their lead with a powerful header from close range. Palace, who had asked the Premier League to postpone the game because of a Covid-19 outbreak, which included a positive test for manager Patrick Vieira, never got going in north London. With Vieira self-isolating, assistant manager Osian Roberts took charge of the team, which had to play for…

Arsenal secured their fourth Premier League victory in a row as they ran out comfortable winners at Carrow Road and heaped more misery on bottom-of-the-table Norwich. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring after six minutes when he guided a low shot past Angus Gunn at the end of a slick Arsenal attack. The impressive Martin Odegaard, who teed up Saka’s opener, then sent Kieran Tierney through to score the away side’s second just before half-time. Saka added a fine third before Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty and substitute Emile Smith Rowe’s stoppage-time strike wrapped up a stress-free win for Mikel Arteta’s side. The…

Manchester City are six point clear at the top of the league after beating Leicester City 6-3 in a nine-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium. City ran to an early four goal lead in 25 minutes thanks to goal from Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling. The league leaders looked like they were running away with it until The Foxes hit back with goals from James Maddison, Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho to set up a pulsating finish. But Manchester City hit back with two more goals from Ayemeric Laporte and Sterling to win 6-3. Foxes…

Abiodun “Infiniti” Afinni, on Friday night, emerged the national cruiserweight champion after defeating Michael “Emirate” Godwin by split decision at GOtv Boxing Night 24. His performance at the show, which held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, won him the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy for the best boxer and N1million cash prize attached. Afinni won a little more than the title and cash prize. His defeat of Godwin was a revenge for his own defeat in the hands of the same opponent at GOtv Boxing Night 23. The seven-bout event, which featured live musical performance by Jamopyper, also saw Nigeria’s Rilwan…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “use his good offices to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations that over N3bn of public funds are missing, mismanaged or diverted from the Federal Ministry of Finance.” The organization said the allegations are documented in the 2018 and 2019 annual audited reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation. SERAP said: “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds…

Gunmen on Boxing Day kidnapped a former gubernatorial aspirant of Action Alliance Party (AA), Uche Nwosu. Some reports claim that the son in-law to former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, was whisked away by the abductors who dressed in security uniform at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama in Obaire Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State. Nwosu who is a former deputy Chief of Staff to the Imo State Government from 2011 to 2013 and Commissioner for Lands from 2013 to 2015 was backed by his father in-law to succeed him as governor. He contested for the gubernatorial seat for Imo…