Author: Chronicle Editor

The son-in-law of one of Russia’s richest men have been sentenced to 30 days in prison for lying to investigators about contacts with ex-Trump aide Rick Gates. He is the first person to be jailed as part of the FBI inquiry into alleged collusion between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign team and Russia. He struck a plea deal in February. Van der Zwaan is the 19th person to be charged by special counsel Robert Mueller. The indictment against him did not refer to the 2016 election campaign. Mr Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing. In March, the US imposed…

The Nigeria Police Force said it would arraign Senator Dino Melaye and the four suspects rearrested for alleged conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi on May 10. The suspects are: Kabiru Seidu, 31, alias Osama, Nuhu Salisu, 25, alias Small, Musa Mohammed, 27, alias Iko and Emmanuel Audu, 26. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on March 28, the Police Command in Kogi announced the escape from lawful custody of six suspects including Seidu and Salisu. NAN also reports that on March 30, the police announced the re-arrest of…

The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it recovered more than 200 illegally acquired firearms from individuals and suspected hoodlums in the last seven months. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal Imohimi, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos. Imohimi said that the firearms were recovered from suspected hoodlums and those that embraced the 21 days grace period given by the Inspector-General of Police to submit their illegally possessed firearms. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recovered arms and ammunition were taken to the Lagos State Police Command armoury. The police chief added…

About 4.54 million trees have been planted and maintained in Katsina State under the Improved Fuel Wood Balance project supported by the European Union, EU. The Project Manager, Dr Chris Udokang said the initial target was to plant 5.5 million trees. He said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Daura that 70 per cent of the trees had survived. According to him, a regeneration of another 1.5 million trees is currently going on while new round of nursery activities have commenced on March 1. He said that the trees were planted in Daura,…

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa says Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the hero of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa will be given a state funeral. Madikizela-Mandela, who died on Monday aged 81, was one of the few remaining representatives of the generation of activists who led the fight against apartheid. Known as ‘the mother of the nation’, her frequently negative image abroad contrasts with her deep and long-lasting popularity within her homeland. On Monday night, crowds of mourners gathered outside Madikizela-Mandela’s home in the Soweto township, a centre of anti-apartheid resistance that remained her base decades after the end of white…

Kogi State Government has dismissed rumours that Governor Yahaya Bello is incapacitated or being hospitalised, stressing that, he is well. In a statement by Kingsley Fanwo, Director General, Media and Publicity, Office of the Governor, Kogi State the governor only injured his foot but is doing fine. “We wish to refute speculations in some quarters that the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, is either hospitalised or otherwise incapacitated,” he said. Noting that, “The Governor missed his footing last Friday March 30, 2018 while alighting from a vehicle and injured his left foot. “He was treated by…

Nigerian crime lords are making millions from mobile phones stolen on the streets of Britain by moped gangs. Mobile phones snatched from pedestrians are advertised as ‘UK used’ iPhones for sale in Nigeria’s capital of Lagos, where they are sold at knock-down prices. Nigeria has not signed up to a global deal effectively blacklisting stolen phones so gangs are continuing to supply tens of thousands of phones to crime bosses in the oil-rich African country. The phones they steal are first stripped of their data which is used by gangs to try and hack bank accounts. They are then sold…

Ekiti state governor Ayo Fayose has constituted a council to coordinate the campaign for the July 14 governorship election, just as Social Democratic Party (SDP) has hit the state to galvanise aggrieved PDP members to wrestle power. Fayose, who re-enforced his preference for Prof. Kolapo Olusola- Eleka, his deputy, as PDP’s candidate, appointed Chief Bisi Kolawole as the Director-General of the “ Kolapo Olusola-Eleka Campaign Council”. Kolawile, the state commissioner for environment, was also a former member of the state House of Assembly. The Special Assistant to the governor on public communication and new media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said Kolawole…

The US justice department is to set increase pressure on immigration judges in an attempt to speed up the processing of immigration cases, US media report. Judges will need to clear at least 700 cases a year in order to receive a “satisfactory” performance rating. But critics warn the plan could see hearings rushed through the courts in a move that may compromise due process. An estimated 600,000 people are waiting to have their immigration cases heard in US courts. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been working on introducing new policies in an effort to help clear this backlog.…

Manchester United’s 27-year-old Spain goalkeeper David de Gea is set to sign a new five-year contract worth £350,000 a week. (Sun) Tottenham are optimistic that manager Mauricio Pochettino and six of his senior players will sign new deals in the next few months. (Telegraph) Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola plans to field a weakened team in Saturday’s derby against Manchester United, when victory would seal the Premier League title for City. The Spaniard could instead prioritise the Champions League quarter-final at Liverpool on Wednesday. (Express) Derek McInnes, Craig Shakespeare, Michael Appleton, Dean Smith and Graham Potter are the leading contenders…