Author: Chronicle Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, presented the fifth prosecution witnesses, in the ongoing trial of Professor Magaji Garba, former Vice Chancellor, Federal University Gusau, before Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja on a five count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and forgery to the tune of over N260m. The defendant allegedly extorted various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the University. The offence is contrary to section 1 (1)…

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, reserved ruling on an application filed by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who was to be arraigned today by the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 12-count charge bordering on an alleged forgery, till Friday, December 17, 2021. One of the counts reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 11th day of October, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by fraudulent representation, procured one Dr. Ogieva Ozeigbe to execute…

The government says that Nigeria and 10 other countries will be removed from the UK’s travel red list from 4am on Wednesday. The other countries on the red list are Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The list was reintroduced in late November as a precaution after the emergence of the Omicron variant. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it had spread so widely the rules no longer had much purpose. “Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red…

Arsenal have stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy to “defend the interests” of the club, says manager Mikel Arteta. Aubameyang, 32, was removed as skipper after his “latest disciplinary breach”. The Gabon striker, who was dropped for Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League win over Southampton, will not be considered for Wednesday’s game against West Ham. “We have made this decision that unfortunately is a really tough one,” said Arteta. “If I had to choose I wouldn’t like to be sitting here talking about it, but we had to do it. “When we have to make that decision, it’s because it’s the…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed reports that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) is maltreated in its custody, noting that, he enjoys a life of “full luxury. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson on Tuesday explained that Nnamdi Kanu is accorded his full rights and privileges, adding that, he unhindered access to the best medical care and doctors. “On IPOB and the alleged ill-treatment of its detained leader, the Service has, without any fear of contradiction, applied restraint in making public statements over the matter,” he said. “The reason is simply because it…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a security advisory as Nigerians prepare for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, stressing that, gangs will attempt to recruit students for criminal activities. Peter Afunanya, spokesperson of DSS said the public must be mindful of groups and individuals desirous of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country. “This is more so that the Service has observed that some persons who are desperately seeking for power use wrong and skewed narratives to not only mislead citizens but overheat the polity,” the DSS spokesman said at a press conference on…

Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced a fake oil magnate, Dr. Vincent Ayigor to a total number of one hundred and seventy five (175) years imprisonment, for duping an American, Joseph Crews, a sum of $ 629, 287 (Six Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Seven US Dollars only), in a crude oil supply scam. He was jailed on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. Ayigor was arraigned, alongside his company, Vanyigor Concepts Limited, before Justice M. A. Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in…

Ikoyi registry and all federal government registries operated by the Ministry of Interior are unconstitutional, illegal and invalid, a High Court in Lagos has ruled. The court, presided over by Justice D. E. Osiagor, held that only the local government marriage registries were empowered to do such by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He submitted that the conduct of marriages and issuance of certificates were statutorily the job of the local governments as provided by the law. The judge added that the acts of the federal government through the Ministry of Interior, operating marriage registries were beyond…

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday backed down from its stance of refusing Air Peace three flight slots a week. The Arab country has now conceded seven slots to Nigerian airline. The Nigerian carrier had previously asked for three frequencies a week including the permission to operate via Dubai airport but the UAE refused, claiming that the Dubai airport was too busy. In reciprocity, the Nigerian government reduced the number of flights Emirates Airline can make into the west African country. Emirates were operating 21 flights a week – three flights a day – into Lagos and Abuja but…

Manchester United’s Premier League match against Brentford on Tuesday night has been postponed after a Covid-19 outbreak at the Old Trafford club. The league says the decision was made “following guidance from medical advisers due to the exceptional circumstances” of the outbreak. Earlier, United shut down operations at their Carrington training ground to minimise the risk of infection. In the past week 42 Premier League players and staff have tested positive. Brighton, Tottenham, Leicester, Aston Villa and Norwich have all confirmed cases and Sunday’s Brighton v Tottenham fixture was postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak at Spurs. United say positives cases…