Author: Chronicle Editor

The leader of Nigeria’s Shi‘ite Muslim sect, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, rumoured to have died in detention, made his first public appearance in two years on Saturday, after police arrested dozens of members of the group during protests calling for his release this week. Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), has been imprisoned at an unknown location without charge since December 2015 after his followers clashed with the army in the northern city of Zaria. A judicial inquiry the following year said 347 IMN members were killed by the military and buried in mass graves. The violent…

Girona forward Michael Olunga Ogada made history on Saturday, becoming the first Kenyan to score a hat-trick in Spain’s La Liga as they beat Las Palmas 6-0. He came off the bench to score in the 57th, 70th and 79th minutes as he became the first player to record a top-flight treble for Girona in their debut season in La Liga. It was also the Catalan side’s biggest home win at any level. Olunga, 23, is on loan at Girona from Chinese club Guizhou Hengfeng. READ: Colourless Chelsea draw 10-man Leicester at Stamford Bridge Girona were ahead at half-time through…

Ten-man Leicester produced an outstanding display to earn a point at third-placed Chelsea – although they should probably have come away from Stamford Bridge with all three. The Foxes dominated possession for large periods and created the better chances but had the sting taken out of their display when defender Ben Chilwell received two yellow cards in the space of five second-half minutes. He was shown no mercy by referee Mike Jones in the 68th minute when he brought down Victor Moses, shortly after fouling Willian. Claude Puel’s side went close twice through Jamie Vardy, while Wilfred Ndidi’s header…

The Nigerian presidency has alerted Nigerians about a fake Twitter handle purportedly belonging to President Muhammadu Buhari. Femi Adesina, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity said the parody account has been posting spurious messages justifying the attacks by herdsmen, saying they were only defending themselves. “Evil doers and enemies of our country are obviously at work, seeking ways to further advance their pernicious acts. “The message is denounced in its entirety, and President Buhari stands by his earlier condemnation of the killings in Benue and other parts of the country as dastardly and unacceptable before God and man.…

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed three of its officers for reckless shooting on duty. In a statement by SP Chike Oti, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, the dismissed officers are Sgt. Osaseri Saturday, Sgt. Segun Okun and Cpl. Adekunle Oluwarotimi. “The general public are hereby informed that three policemen attached to Amukoko Division by names and service numbers: 25759 Sgt. Osaseri Saturday, 35 9075 Sgt. Segun Okun, 496833 Cpl. Adekunle Oluwarotimi have been tried and dismissed from the Nigeria Police for breaching the rules of engagement to wit reckless application of firearms,” the statement read. “The aforementioned…

Action movie actor Steven Seagal is being investigated over an allegation of sexual assault, police have said. Officers in Los Angeles said it referred to an incident which is alleged to have taken place 13 years ago. An LAPD spokeswoman said the investigation was being handled by its robbery-homicide division. “All we can do is confirm that there’s an open investigation from 2005,” she said, confirming it was an allegation of sexual assault. Read Also Two arrested for the murder of Harry Uzoka in London The 65-year-old actor has faced accusations of sexual harassment since the scandal over producer Harvey…

London luxury department store Harrods said Saturday it was taking down a statue of the late Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed and returning it to former owner Mohamed Al Fayed. Al Fayed commissioned the bronze statue, which shows his son and Diana holding hands and releasing a bird, after they were killed in a Paris car crash in 1997. It remained there after he sold Harrods to the investment arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund in 2010. But the store’s managing director, Michael Ward, said it was now time to return it, noting that Diana’s sons Princes…

Davido swept the SoundCity MVP awards on Friday night, winning a hat trick of awards. His massive 2017 hit “IF” won Song of the Year and Video of the Year while he also bagged the African Artist of the Year award. Maleek Berry won Best New Act, Tiwa Savage won Best Female MVP, Diamond Platnumz won Best Male MVP and Sarkodie won Best Collaboration for his “Painkiller” song with Runtown. There was an award for Wizkid as well. READ: Two arrested for murder of Harry Uzoka in London Davido’s ‘blood brother’ bagged Digital Artiste of the Year award. And Davido…

Two men have been arrested for the murder of Harry Uzoka, a young male model who died after being found stabbed in a London street. The 25-year-old was discovered fatally wounded in Old Oak Road, East Acton, at about 16:00 GMT on Thursday. Several fashion brands and a modelling agency have since paid their tribute to late Harry Uzoka. Friends and fans, including fellow models and a singer, have paid tribute to Mr Uzoka, describing him as an “inspiration to young black men”. Two men aged 27 and 28 were arrested near to the scene on suspicion of murder and…

Cyril Ramaphosa, the new leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress, ANC, has said the party must address the “dysfunction” in its ranks and unite at all levels. Mr Ramaphosa told a large rally in the south-eastern city East London that the party had become deeply divided through factionalism, patronage and corruption. He was elected to replace President Jacob Zuma as party head last month. But Mr Ramaphosa did not address calls to immediately replace the president, who was booed as he took his seat. Mr Zuma’s term in office is not scheduled to end until elections in 2019.…