Author: Chronicle Editor

Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has signed for Guildford Phoenix ice hockey team. The Czech shot-stopper will make his debut on Sunday after penning a one-year deal with the Phoenix. Cech has been training with the club since retiring from football at the end of last season and has spoken of his excitement for his new challenge. He said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to play with the Pheonix to get the match experience. “I hope I can help this young team to achieve their goals for the season and try to win as many games…

The Senate on Wednesday commenced debate on the 2020 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari on Tuesday presented a budget estimate of N10.33 trillion for the year 2020 at a joint sitting of the National Assembly. The debate on the appropriation bill, which continues on Thursday, had senators making their contributions on Wednesday on different aspects contained in the budget proposals. Some of the lawmakers during Wednesday’s debate on the proposals drew the attention of the executive arm of government to certain areas that needed some tweaking to enhance the economy. One of such…

Dr. Chikaodinaka D. Nwankpa, a Nigerian-born former university professor in Philadelphia spent tens of thousands of dollars in US government money for local strip clubs and sports bars over a 10-year period, the Justice Department said. Nwankpa misused $189,062 of government grants from July 2007 through April 2017 while working at Drexel University, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The university has agreed to pay back the money to resolve its potential civil liability in the case. Drexel said Tuesday in a statement that it takes “allegations of unethical or unlawful business conduct … very seriously,” USA Today reported. The government’s…

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) says it will challenge the illegality of awarding life pensions to chairmen and speakers of Abuja Municipal Area Council. SERAP said the chairman of AMAC, Hon. Abdullahi Candido, had reportedly signed an edict that will pay life pensions to AMAC’s chairmen and speakers. The life pensions for chairmen is N500,000 yearly while the vice chairmen will get N300,000 and speakers will pocket N200,000. “Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Candido, reported signing of an edict to pay life pensions to AMAC’s chairs and speakers is unconstitutional and illegal,” SERAP said vowing to…

The Senate on Wednesday revisited the sexual harassment bill which was sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) and passed by the 8th Senate. The Bill which was introduced by the 8th Senate in October 2016 seeks a five-year jail term and five million naira fine for lecturers convicted for sexually harassing male or female students. According to the bill, an educator will be “guilty of committing an offence of sexual harassment against a student if he/she has sexual intercourse with a student who is less than 18 years of age; has sexual intercourse with a student or demands…

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Adeleke Adewolu as Executive Commissioner on the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). His confirmation is sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Communications on the screening of the nominee. The report was presented during plenary by the Committee’s Chairman, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central). Earlier, during consideration of the report, Senator Rocha Okorocha (APC, Imo West), lamented the exclusion of a nominee from the South East as member of the board. The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), however informed…

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja administered oaths of office on members of the newly constituted Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC), and also set an agenda of what they should accomplish in the shortest possible time. Speaking at a meeting with the 8-man Council chaired by Prof. Doyin Salami, President Buhari charged them to focus on developing reliable data that will properly reflect what is happening in the country. The President who called the task before the PEAC ‘‘most important national assignment’’, said: ”As you develop your baseline study, I would like you to focus on primary data collection. ”Today,…

It was a refreshing time of going down memory lane, as President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received at State House, Abuja, some of the Ministers who served with him as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985. The President recalled “how we got things done then,” because it was a military administration, and pledged to “carry everyone along on my last lap as a democratically elected leader.” President Buhari thanked the former Ministers “for being consistently in touch” and particularly lauded the military for building Abuja as new Federal capital for the country. A minute silence was…

Coleen Rooney has claimed that someone using Rebekah Vardy’s Instagram account has leaked stories about her to a tabloid newspaper. The wife of Wayne Rooney says she spent five months working out who was giving out information from her personal Instagram account. She claims she worked out it was Rebekah’s account by blocking everyone else’s account apart from hers. Rebekah – the wife of Jamie Vardy – has denied the allegation. Both Wayne and Jamie have played together for the England football team. This has been a burden in my life for a few years now and finally I have…

AC Milan have appointed Stefano Pioli as their new manager, following Marco Giampaolo’s sacking on Tuesday after just three and a half months in charge. Italian Pioli, 53, is the Rossoneri’s ninth full-time manager since they last won the Serie A title in 2011. The hashtag #PioliOut was the top trend on Twitter in Italy on Tuesday, with fans unhappy at the prospect of his appointment. Milan are 13th in Serie A, three points above the relegation zone. Milan beat Genoa 2-1 on Saturday after Pepe Reina saved a penalty in injury time for only their third win in their opening…