Author: Chronicle Editor

Germany’s football association (DFB) has “emphatically rejected” allegations of racism from Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, but says it could have done more to protect him from abuse. Ozil, 29, said he no longer wants to play for Germany, citing “racism and disrespect” within German football. The midfielder says he received hate mail and threats, and was blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup. The DFB said it “regrets the departure of Mesut Ozil from the national team”. It added in a statement: “We emphatically reject the DFB being linked to racism. The DFB has been very involved in integration work in Germany…

The Police Command in Lagos State have arrested a 19-year-old woman, Dorcas Adilewa, who planned her kidnap to defraud her father. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspect hatched the plan in connivance with one Ifeoluwa Ogunbanjo, her friend, who provided location and a phone to contact her parents. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal, said that the suspects were arrested on July 13 following a report by the suspect’s father at Ketu Police Station. “On July 7 at about 5 p.m., Adilewa Taiwo of No. 3, Kosumi Lane, Bello-Ketu, Lagos, reported at Ketu…

…Issues 30-Day Ultimatum To Tank Farms Without Adequate Loading Bay …DPR To Ensure Compliance By Owners Of Tank Farms …As Joint Security Task Force Extend Work By One Month To Restore Sanity The Lagos State Government on Monday announced the suspension of approval for development of tank farms in Apapa as part of its renewed effort to restore sanity completely and fashion out immediately and long term solution along the Oshodi-Apapa corridor and prevent a repeat of the chaos caused by containerized trucks and tankers parked on the road. Rising from a closed door meeting with stakeholders in the maritime…

Feet ‘n’ Tricks International in partnership with the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA) has announced hosting of debut Africa Freestyle Football Championship this year. The African Championship is coming on the heels of the successful Nigerian Freestyle Championship organized by Feet ‘n’ Tricks International in 2017. Freestyle football is described by the WFFA as “the art and sport of juggling a football using all parts of the body to entertain audiences and outperform opponents… a fusion of tricks with a ball, dance and music.” Registration for this tournament is currently open to both male and female freestylers of African descent…

Senate President Bukola Saraki has denied stories that he was being offered juicy package by the Presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep him in the party, but explained they were meeting on serious national issues. He said that though there had had been discussions on some national issues, talks of offers to him by APC leadership or President Muhammadu Buhari was not only untrue but unfortunate. A section of the media reported that the presidency and APC National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, had made overtures to influential leaders of Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC), to stall their planned…

R. Kelly has addressed multiple accusations of sexual misconduct against him in an exhaustive 19-minute song called “I Admit” that dropped Monday morning. The singer strikes a familiar defensive tone in the song, singing about the tall odds he overcame to attain success, accusing haters of trying to destroy his career and hangers-on of spending his money or benefiting from his largess. He admits “I done made some mistakes” but fiercely denies the strongest accusations against him. “How they gon’ say I don’t respect these women, when all I’ve done is represent / Take my career and turn it upside…

US President Donald Trump, has again blamed former President Barack Obama, for “not doing something” about alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, labeling it a ‘big hoax’. He said Obama thought the Democratic presidential candidate and arch-rival, Hillary Clinton, was going to win. Trump tweeted: “So President Obama knew about Russia before the Election. Why didn’t he do something about it? “Why didn’t he tell our campaign? Because it is all a big hoax, that’s why, and he thought Crooked Hillary was going to win!!!” So President Obama knew about Russia before the Election. Why didn’t he do…

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has quit international football, citing the “racism and disrespect” he has faced in Germany over his Turkish roots. The 29-year-old was criticised after being photographed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a London event in May. He says he received hate mail and threats and was being blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup. “I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose,” Ozil said. German football chiefs have yet to respond to Ozil’s claims. The third-generation Turkish-German was born in Gelsenkirchen and was a key member of his country’s 2014…

Chelsea are considering whether to accept a £65m bid from Barcelona for midfielder Willian, with Manchester United also keen on the 29-year-old Brazil international. (Mail) The Blues remain interested in signing Manchester United’s France forward Anthony Martial, 22. (Talksport) Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic wants to leave the club to get more first-team football, with Bayern Munich, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United interested in signing the 24-year-old Croatia international. (Marca) Fulham have joined Lazio in showing interest in signing Borussia Dortmund’s 27-year-old Germany winger Andre Schurrle, who has also been offered to Crystal Palace and Everton. (Mail) Manchester…

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has advised advertising practitioners on ways of growing the country’s economy for their benefit and that of the country in general. The governor spoke in Abeokuta on Friday while opening of the 45th Annual General Meeting/Congress of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN). Amosun was represented at the opening ceremony by Mr. Dayo Adeneye, Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy. In the opening address delivered at the ceremony, the governor urged practitioners to stick to the ethical code of the profession, especially as politics is in the air, by avoiding divisive…