Author: Chronicle Editor

Policemen have been drafted to the office of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, in Abuja following workers’ protest over the reinstatement of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf. Yusuf was reinstated by the Federal Government on Tuesday, February 6. Yusuf was suspended in June 2017 by the Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole, following allegations of gross misconduct. Last week, Ayo Osinlu, Head, Media and Public Relations of NHIS, confirmed that Yusuf was yet to officially resume work. READ: Mass trial of Boko Haram suspects to resume in Nigeria Osinlu told NAN that: “NHIS Executive Secretary, Prof. Usman Yusuf…

Hundreds of Boko Haram suspects were due back in court Monday to hear if they will be prosecuted, sentenced or released, as proceedings resumed at a military base in central Nigeria. The first major prosecutions of people arrested during the insurgency began last October, involving 1,669 suspects held at the facility in Kainji, Niger state. The justice ministry has said 468 were released after it was found they had no case to answer; 45 were sentenced to between two and 15 years in jail; and 28 had their cases transferred. A further 82 pleaded guilty in exchange for a lesser…

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia has been named as the winner of the 2017 Mo Ibrahim Leadership Prize of $5 million. She joins Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia (2014), Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde (2011), Festus Mogae of Botswana (2008) and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique (2007) as an Ibrahim Prize Laureate. Nelson Mandela was made the inaugural Honorary Laureate in 2007. Sirleaf was named the 2017 winner by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation today following a meeting of its independent Prize Committee. She served two terms as President of Liberia from 2006 to January 2018 and is the fifth recipient…

More than three weeks after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s well-publicised Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), the movement seems to be in limbo as no governor has embraced it. Obasanjo, who served as president from 1999-2007 lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari as lacking economic knowledge and being clannish. He advised Buhari against seeking a second term. CNM had claimed that 13 of the 36 governors would embrace it. But with the exception of a southern governor whose commitment is “fluid”, no governor has joined the movement, The Nation reports. READ: Police Service Commission promotes 9,973 officers – Mike Okiro The development is…

The Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr Mike Okiro said 9, 973 policemen were promoted by the commission in 2017. Okiro made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday. He said that two commissioners of police and 13 Deputy Commissioners of police were promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and commissioners respectively within the period under review. The chairman said that 41 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) and 54 Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) were also elevated to Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) and ACP respectively. He…

A Russian airliner has crashed after leaving Moscow’s Domodedovo airport, killing all 65 passengers and six crew on board. The Saratov Airlines jet vanished minutes after take-off and crashed near the village of Argunovo, about 80km (50 miles) south-east of Moscow. The cause of crash is unclear. Investigators and emergency crews are working at the snow-covered site. The Antonov An-148 was en route to the city of Orsk in the Ural mountains. Pieces of wreckage and bodies were found spread over a large area. One of the flight recorders has been recovered, officials say. This is the first commercial passenger…

A robbery suspect arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command has confessed that he robbed drunk club-goers of their phones, purse, gold rings and chains every early Saturday morning. The suspect, Nathaniel Peters, 28, was arrested in Abule Egba early Saturday morning during a search for a suspected robber, who stabbed a lady after dispossessing her of her mobile phone. Peters, who was returning from a popular night club in Ikeja around 5:00 a.m. where he had gone to operate, was seen running away while police were searching for a robbery suspect.…

President Donald Trump says lives are being “destroyed by mere allegation” after two White House aides quit amid accusations of domestic abuse. “There is no recovery for someone falsely accused,” Mr Trump tweeted. This week saw the departure of White House speechwriter David Sorensen and staff secretary Rob Porter. The White House has been criticised for its handling of the allegations and Mr Trump’s comments quickly drew scorn. His remarks also come amid a worldwide debate over sexual harassment and the abuse of power. READ: Want to stop evading tax? VAIDS: Here’s how to participate In his tweet, Mr Trump…

Liverpool moved to within two points of second-placed Manchester United after goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah secured a comfortable victory over struggling Southampton. Brazil forward Firmino gave the Reds an early lead with his 20th goal of the season when he finished off a Liverpool counter-attack after being teed up by Salah. Southampton then twice brought saves out of Reds goalkeeper Loris Karius, before Liverpool added a second through Salah after he exchanged passes with Firmino. It was the Egypt international’s 29th goal of the season for the club from 36 appearances in all competitions. Liverpool looked the…

The process of participation in the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) have been made easier for new taxpayers as well as existing ones, who have not been paying appropriate taxes. According to the VAIDS office in the Federal Ministry of Finance, the first step for new taxpayers is to apply for a Tax Identification Number (TIN), which will be fast-tracked. Existing taxpayers are required to register for the scheme by filling the declaration form, obtainable from relevant tax authorities and available online. The relevant tax authority can help calculate a taxpayer’s liabilities. In addition, the VAIDS office has…