Author: Chronicle Editor

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to: “jointly carry out a prompt, thorough, transparent and effective investigation into allegations that principal officers and members of the Nigerian Senate are using their official positions to get job slots from government agencies.” SERAP also urged the anti-corruption agencies to: “probe allegations that some ministries, departments and agencies are selling the employment slots at their disposal, with a single slot being allegedly sold for as much as N1.5 million. We urge you to prosecute…

The Presidency has commended the Nigeria Police Force for the discovery of a child-theft racket in Kano State and Islamic schools in Kaduna and Katsina states, urging them to sustain these good efforts across the country. Reacting to the incidents and arrests, President Muhammadu Buhari noted that such arrests is in line with his commitment to human rights and dignity of the citizens regardless of their age, religion and ethnicity. In a statement by Garba Shehu, his spokesperson, President Buhari will not support criminality under any guise, including the abduction of children and selling them off illegally. On Islamic schools turned…

Segun Prosper Otaru, a 27-year-old Nigerian who lived in St. Robert, Missouri, United States has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison without parole, almost a year after he was first indicted in November 2018 by by a federal grand jury. According to US Department of Justice statement, Otaru was sentenced by US Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Friday. The court also ordered him to pay $25,056 in restitution, and to forfeit the same amount to the government. Otaru is a legal permanent resident of the United States. According to court documents, Otaru entered the…

Nigerian Jessica Edosomwan was listed on Friday by Europol among 18 most wanted female fugitives. Jessica, who is 26 years-old is wanted by French authorities. She is alleged to have been part of a gang of people smugglers who used a form of witchcraft known as ‘juju’ to force young Nigerian girls into prostitution. Operating in every major French city the gang housed the girls in terrible conditions, charging them exorbitant rents, it is claimed. The victims, who were run by an older woman known as ‘la Mama,’ were then prostituted on the streets. The money they made was then…

There was panic on Saturday night around Zoo road in Kano metropolis when a lion escaped from its cage at the Kano Zoological garden. NAN reported that the incident happened around 9 p.m. when the rangers were trying to put it back to its cage after they returned it from the national agricultural show which took place in Nasarawa state. A source at the zoological garden told NAN that effort was being made to capture the animal which was still within the zoo premises. Malam Rabiu Lawal, a resident of Zoo Road, said he had locked up his house until…

Nigeria’s economy is projected to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said in its World Economic Outlook growth projections. The IMF said Nigeria will grow 2.3% this year (2019) and 2.5% next year (2020) portraying a gradual but steady improvement in the country’s fortune. The international body noted that Africa’s Sub-Saharan Africa’s public debt load is stabilising but the continent’s economies are face mounting headwinds due to slowing global growth that will weigh on exports. The IMF has previously warned of the continent’s rising debt burden, largely the result of borrowing to plug…

The company that provides the Premier League’s video assistant referee (VAR) technology has apologised to Tottenham and Watford fans after an incorrect graphic was sent to the big screen during Saturday’s 1-1 draw. Dele Alli rescued a point for Spurs after a VAR review for handball decided the goal had been correctly awarded. However, initially the big screen wrongly indicated a ‘no goal’ verdict. Hawk-Eye Innovations said it will work with the league to avoid future issues. READ: Real Madrid suffer shock loss in Mallorca The company said: “Hawk-Eye apologises to Spurs and Watford fans for the confusion caused. “We are working…

National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) in collaboration with other agencies has concluded plans to honour female ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari administration on Monday in Abuja. The National President of NCWS, Mrs Gloria Shoda, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said that the council would also honour female National Assembly legislators. According to her, NCWS wishes to celebrate, honour and recognise the remarkable contributions women have made to nation building in spite of the daunting challenges they might have faced. ”A critical study of the women of substance revealed that they have excelled in…

US President Donald Trump has abandoned plans to host next year’s G7 summit at one of his resorts in Florida after bipartisan criticism. In a series of late tweets, Mr Trump said he was reversing the idea because of “crazed and irrational hostility” by Democrats and the media. Critics said the plan was evidence of Mr Trump using the office for personal gain, which the White House denied. Mr Trump said the presidential retreat at Camp David could host the G7 summit. The decision to use Trump National Doral Miami, announced on Thursday, was condemned by Congressional lawmakers, including some…

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday in Abuja began a vocational training programme for 100 Nigerian women under its women empowerment initiative. The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AL-Taffaq, said the programme was aimed at providing a platform for women’s social development and sustainability that would allow them acquire valuable skills. “The aim is to promote self-reliance, employment creation and poverty alleviation in the society,” he said. He further said that the initiative was being organised by the UAE embassy in Abuja, in collaboration with Sharjah Charity International, a UAE-based charity organisation, and the Ministry…