Author: Chronicle Editor

Investigators looking into the records of former Petroleum minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, have uncovered illegal withdrawal of $1.3 billion. The money was removed from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) without relevant approval. Report says that the withdrawal of the cash was ostensibly to fight kidnapping and other security threats in the Niger Delta. Former President Goodluck Jonathan is reported to have given the approval to Diezani Alison-Madueke. The withdrawal was neither authorised by the National Assembly nor the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,…

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as Real Madrid won a league match for the first time since 9 December with a thumping win over Deportivo La Coruna. Adrian Lopez tapped in the opener for Deportivo, but Nacho soon levelled with a clinical strike. Bale curled in a superb second for Real before making it 3-1 with a header. Luka Modric struck from distance, and a Ronaldo double and another Nacho goal completed the scoring. READ: Watford name Javi Gracia as new manager\ Victory moved Real back into the top four but they are 19 points behind leaders…

Presidential adviser on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja said President Muhammadu Buhari is in a better state, healthwise when compared to 2015. Adesina said this while speaking with State House correspondents, adding that, has not decided on whether to contest in the 2019 election. He added that president Buhari’s health would never be an issue as he had been improving tremendously since his return from medical vacation. Buhari left Nigeria on May 7, for the second round of his medical treatment in London, and returned to Abuja on Aug. 19, 2017 after a successful medical…

Multiple reports in Nigeria media said a section of the farm owned by a former secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae has been set on fire. Herdsmen are being accused of torching the farm located in Ilado Village, Akure North Local Government of Ondo State. According to reports, the arsonists did not steal anything on the farm but burnt down five hectares of oil palm plantation. The Punch reported that Falae’s Personal Assistant, Captain Moshood Raji, (rtd) confirmed the incident. Raji told Punch: “At about 6pm, I got a message from one of the police officers attached to…

Lucky Igbenedion’s daughter Nosazena Enaholo, Nigerian business man Kennedy Uwagboe, and two limited liability companies, Jupiter Asset Management Company Limited and Mid-Western Oil and Gas Limited have filed an application before a Federal High Court in Lagos, to set aside judgement of $3,286,629.92, and other orders made against them by the court. Sometime in 2016 the court presided over by Justice Saliu Saidu awarded the sum against the defendants after The Plaintiff Diamond bank Plc filed the suit on the 18 June 2015 and requested the court to enter the suit for hearing in the “undefended list” and to mark…

Watford have named Javi Gracia as their new head coach, hours after the Premier League club sacked Marco Silva. Spaniard Gracia, who has signed an 18-month contract at Vicarage Road, has been out of work since leaving Russian club Rubin Kazan last June. The 47-year-old previously spent two seasons with Spanish La Liga side Malaga, and also worked in Greece. Gracia is the 10th manager to work for Watford under the Pozzo family since 2012. The Hornets said Everton’s approach for Silva in November was the “catalyst” for their decision to sack him. READ: Watford sack manager Marco Silva He…

Nigeria security operatives have arrested many members of Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) who infiltrated Nigeria. They were arrested in Benue, Edo and Kogi. Security operatives have identified the infiltration of Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) in Nigeria’s North Central and South South. Security reports say further revealed that a “good number” of the Islamic State terrorists were arrested in Edo, specifically in Akoko-Edo, Okpella and Benin as well as in Okene, in Kogi. Security service organizations who are carrying out surveillance and arrest included the Department of State Service (DSS). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports…

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said that the National Assembly is committed to protecting and enhancing press freedom within the country. This, he stated in Kaduna Saturday, at a retreat organized for members of the House of Representatives press corps. Dogara, while giving his address, also highlighted certain factors responsible for the seemingly insufficient understanding of the roles and duties of the legislature, such as the long period of military rule. “Almost two decades after Nigeria returned to civil rule, it still appears that we are still having hangover of military rule as some…

Mr Joseph Attach, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said that the service had set N1.3 trillion revenue target for 2018. Attah disclosed on Sunday in Abuja that the Service recorded its highest revenue collection ever of over N1 trillion as against N770 billion targetted in 2017. He said that this was contrary to the speculation by a section of the media that the Service had fixed N1.5 trillion target for 2018. “As we speak, we (Customs) await the Federal Government official revenue target for the Service but we have already fixed N1.3 trillion for 2018. Read…

A 54-year-old man has been arrested after an eight-year-old girl was stabbed to death near Walsall, police have said. The attack happened in the Brownhills area on Saturday night. Police say they were called at about 9.15pm and when they arrived at a property they found the girl with serious injuries. Officers said: “She was taken to hospital, but sadly nothing could be done to save her and she died a short time later.” The 54-year-old man was also taken to hospital and treated for a stab wound to his stomach. Police say he is in a stable condition. Detective…