Author: Chronicle Editor

Favourites Brazil have been knocked out of the 2018 World Cup by the golden generation of Belgium in a hard fought 2-1 victory. Roberto Martinez’s side turned on the style in Kazan to clock up their fifth straight win of the tournament and ensure the semi-finals will be contested by four European sides for the first time. Brazil had conceded just one goal in their past four games in Russia but were behind early when Nacer Chadli’s corner struck Fernandinho’s arm and flew into the net, the 10th own goal of this World Cup. Fernandinho’s Manchester City team-mate Kevin de…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says active mobile telephone lines in Nigeria has increased to 162 million. This figure is close to the nation’s population figure which is now put at 195 million. It said in its monthly Subscribers Operator Data posted on its website on Friday that the mobile lines figure was as at the end of May, adding that it rose from 160 million recorded in April. With 162, 075,116 lines in May and 160, 081,051 in April, the increase in the number of lines was 1,994,065. However, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) for active mobile lines…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today 6 July 2018, directed the immediate release of two properties located in the United Kingdom belonging to African billionaire businessman and Aiteo boss Benedict Peters. The properties have been the subject of an Interim Forfeiture Order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2016, allegedly in the course of its investigation of allegations of corruption against the former Petroleum Minister, Mrs Dieziani Alison-Madueke. By this decision, the court has upheld Peters’ case that the properties wholly belonged to him; was unconnected to any activities of the former minister and…

The board of Mozambique’s Lam Airlines has been sacked after the country’s prime minister and other passengers were left stranded when a plane ran out of fuel. Carlos Agostinho do Rosário ended up using an air force plane for his official trip from the capital, Maputo, to the northern Niassa province. The state-owned airline has been experiencing a cash crunch. Local media report the “chaos” has been going on for three days. Reports say that fuel suppliers had asked for payment to be made before delivery. READ: #AvenfieldReference: Ex-Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif jailed 10 years The airline called the incident…

Rafael Varane and Antoine Griezmann both scored as France beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera will not forget the game in a hurry for his part in France’s second goal scored by Griezmann. Muslera who was playing his 102 game for Uruguay fumbled Griezmann’s strike when it looked rather easy to catch or parry. KARIUS ALERT. It's a massive error from #URU Goalkeeper Muslera! #URUFRA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/qgJQrYus4W— Futbol Replays (@Futbol_Replays) July 6, 2018 READ: Arsenal in for Hirving Lozano, Facebook offers Ronaldo $10m In terms of excitement, this…

A Pakistani court has sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years in prison on corruption charges related to four luxury London flats. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court handed down the verdict after a series of delays. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, received a seven-year sentence, while his son-in-law, Safdar Awan, was given a one-year sentence. Nawaz Sharif has said the charges are politically motivated. Both he and his daughter are in London, where Sharif’s wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, is receiving treatment for cancer. Judge Mohammad Bashir ordered Sharif to serve 10 years for owning assets beyond income and…

Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu has pledged N500 million to create an entrepreneurship programme exclusive to indigenes of the state. Elumelu who hails from Delta state made the pledge during a courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. He made the commitment after presenting 50 beneficiaries of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme to the governor. “Your Excellency, on behalf of the Heirs Holdings Group, we will work with your office to put in place a new programme to support Delta State youth and I commit N500m to this purpose,” said Elumelu. “Indeed,…

Upcoming Yoruba actress and film maker, Yetunde Akilapa, who is also a career thief, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court charged with burglary and stealing valuables worth N7 million.
 The actress, 32, who lives at Oladelola Street, Ketu area of Lagos, is standing trial on a three-count charge of burglary and stealing to which she pleaded not guilty. 
Police Prosecutor Benson Emuerhi told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 27 at Mutairu Street, Shangisha, Ketu, a suburb of Lagos, at 2.10 p.m. 
According to him, the accused was apprehended while trying to…

A football fan from Nigeria has reportedly requested political asylum in Russia, citing fears of political persecution in his home country, the Moscow Times reports. Human rights groups say it is difficult for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Russia, with only 582 people admitted as refugees in 2017, the lowest number in the past decade. Since the World Cup began, dozens of people who entered Russia using World Cup fan identity documents have attempted to enter neighboring European countries and request asylum. READ: Supreme Court dismisses CCT trial of Bukola Saraki on false asset declaration The 31-year-old citizen…

The Supreme Court has dismissed the trial of Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on assets declaration charges. The trial of Senator Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had lingered for many months with court injunctions filed by Saraki’s lawyers that he should not be tried. The former Kwara governor’s lawyers also accused Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Danladi Umar, of lacking the integrity and credibility to try Saraki. READ: Tracka raises concern over 2018 Constituency Projects, calls for citizens’ action In March, Umar said the CCT would adjourn the trial of Saraki and await the decision…