Author: Chronicle Editor

Central Bank of Nigeria has sold yuan at a range of 49-51 naira at its first auction of the Chinese currency, traders said, two months after it agreed a $2.5 billion swap with Beijing. The auction, which traders said saw yuan sold for immediate and for 15-day settlement, is part of efforts to encourage the use of an alternative trading currency to the US dollar. Nigeria imports heavily from China and the central bank met with businesses prior to the auction to familiarise them with using yuan. The OPEC member suffered severe dollar shortages after prices for crude oil, its…

Thomas Lemar says he is “very happy with the decision” he made to join Atletico Madrid from Monaco, after passing a medical to complete the move. The 22-year-old France international had signed a contract with Atletico during the 2018 World Cup but the clubs had not formalised the move. ???????? Lemar spoke to us about what it means for him to join Atleti: “I want to discover the Wanda @Metropolitano and play for Atlético’s supporters” ????⚪????#AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/OPQxr6o6mb— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) July 29, 2018 The winger was presented by Atletico on Monday, and joins fellow Frenchmen Antoine Griezmann and Lucas…

The political drama in the northern state of Kano has taken a new twist with the State House of Assembly impeaching its Speaker. Speaker was Alhaji Abdullahi Ata shortly after the House resumed sitting on Monday. The assembly also re-elected Alhaji Kabiru Rurum, the immediate-past speaker of the house who was also impeached over allegations of corruption. The motion for Ata’s impeachment was moved by Malam Labaran Madari, representing Warawa Constituency. The speaker was also impeached alongside two other principal officers of the assembly. READ: Eight APC lawmakers attempt to impeach Ortom in Benue The assembly closed two months ago…

Eight All Progressives Congress lawmakers have taken charge of the Benue State House of Assembly and have served Governor Samuel Ortom an impeachment notice. The Benue Assembly has 30 lawmakers in all and eight cannot form quorom to remove the governor under Nigeria’s constitution. As at the time of filing this report a detachment of armed mobile policemen, drawn from Abuja, Nasarawa and Benue have take over the house of Assembly complex. READ: Nigerian troops kill 16 Boko Haram fighters in Mairari The lawmakers who tried impeaching the governor include impeached Speaker of the House, Terkimbi Ikyange. Others are Adanyi…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first MLS hat-trick as LA Galaxy came from behind to defeat Orlando City 4-3 on Sunday. The former Sweden striker got his goals inside 24 second-half minutes. 15 goals in 17 #LAGalaxy appearances. Witness @Ibra_official's first hat trick in @MLS ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KNGqoOFxHq— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 30, 2018 Ibrahimovic, 36, has 15 goals in 17 appearances for the Galaxy. He had earlier provided the assist for Giovani dos Santos to score Galaxy’s first after Cristian Higuita had given Orlando the lead. The visitors’ other goals came from a Michael Ciani own goal and Dom Dwyer. READ:…

Neymar used a sponsor’s ad to admit he exaggerated some of his reactions after being fouled during the World Cup in Russia. The video, published Sunday and broadcast on several Brazilian TV networks, features the striker accepting criticism for the first time and promising to pick himself up. The striker scored two goals in the tournament and was not too disappointing until his team got knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals, but fans and players have spoken much more about his theatrics on the pitch, which included dives, rolling and frequent arguing with referees. “You may think I exaggerate.…

At least 16 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed by troops at the Mairari, a village in Monguno Local government area of Borno State. The Deputy Director of Public Relations, Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said on Sunday that the success was recorded on Friday evening when the soldiers deployed in the Forward Operational Base (FOB) along Mairari in Monguno had an encounter with the insurgents and recovered two gun trucks from them. “The insurgents in three vehicles, including gun trucks, had infiltrated and attacked the community when troops at the FOB were alerted by locals. “The…

The 42-year-old Linus Chibuzor-Nwankwo, who died on Friday in South Africa has been confirmed was killed by a fellow Nigerian. The Consul General of Nigeria in South Africa, Mr. Godwin Adama, has confirmed that Chibuzor-Nwankwo from Enugu State was killed, Mr. Lawrence Nwarienne from Anambra. Adama, condemned the killing and expressed shock and dismay that a fellow Nigerian carried out the act. Chibuzor-Nwankwo was shot by Nwarienne another Nigerian operating a bar in South Africa, in the early hours of Friday in Kempton Park, Johannesburg in South Africa. The envoy said Nwarienne shot the deceased right at his bar for…

Canadian immigration officials are using DNA testing and ancestry websites to try to establish the nationality of migrants, the Canada Border Services Agency said. CBSA spokesman Jayden Robertson said the agency uses DNA testing to determine identity of “longer-term detainees” when other techniques have been exhausted. “DNA testing assists the CBSA in determining identity by providing indicators of nationality thereby enabling us to focus further lines of investigation on particular countries,” Robertson said in an email. But the process raises concerns about privacy of data held by ancestry websites, and highlights political pressure over the handling of migrants by Canada’s…

Speaker Zamfara House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, has said that 15 persons have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday in Maradun Local Government Area of the state. Rikiji told newsmen in Gusau on Sunday that the security situation in the state called for serious review. This comes hours after President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, approved the deployment of fighter jets to combat terrorism in the state. The State Assembly Speaker recalled the ugly incidences recorded in the last two days in Zurmi Local Government Area where bandits took over three districts comprising over 18 villages and towns. READ:…