Author: Chronicle Editor

Boko Haram insurgents have beheaded six farmers at Dimge plantation in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the killing is the latest in a string of attacks in the violence-wracked North-east, where more than 20,000 people have been killed in nine years of insurgency. The killing occurred on Sunday, while the farmers worked on their farms in the plantation, a witness, Jiddah Ahmad, told a NAN correspondent in Jere town, near Maiduguri on Tuesday. Ahmad said the insurgents abducted seven farmers as they worked on their farms and slaughtered six of…

Financier Amanda Staveley has submitted a formal takeover offer to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to buy the club. Ms Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners tabled a bid to buy Newcastle from Mr Ashley late last week. This came after more than two months of negotiations. Sources close to Newcastle have told Sky Sports News that reports the bid is worth in the region of £300m are inaccurate. It was unclear on Monday evening whether PCP was the only credible bidder for the club, but PCP hope to gain exclusivity from Mr Ashley, which means no other bidders are being considered. PCP’s…

The federal government has stepped up efforts aimed at repatriating $321 million looted funds from Switzerland before the end of the year. The announcement was made on Monady by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Justice Reforms, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, at an anti-corruption campaign organised by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) in Abuja. Ibekaku noted that as a result of the efforts made so far by the present administration, part of the Malabu Oil deal funds held by the court in the United Kingdom had been recovered. The presidential aide said: “We are also working to…

The trial of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was yesterday stalled following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako. Kanu and three others are being prosecuted by the federal government on charges of alleged treasonable felony. At the last adjournment, Kanu was absent in court and his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court he doesn’t know the whereabouts of his client following the invasion of his home by soldiers on September 12, 2017. Ejiofor added that he cannot tell if Kanu was alive or dead as he has not seen or heard…

A proposal to ban smoking in French films has been met with splutters of indignation in a land raised on images of puffing, pouting silver-screen stars. The idea was floated last week by a senator from the opposition Socialist Party, Nadine Grelet-Certenais, during a parliamentary debate on how to help the French quit smoking. Quoting a study that found 70 percent of new French films show at least one character lighting up, the senator accused filmmakers of painting smoking in a positive light. “It trivialises and even promotes smoking, particularly among children and teenagers who are the biggest consumers of…

The Nigerian Police has confirmed the arrest of Maryam Sanda for allegedly stabbing her husband, Haliru Bello to death. Bello, 35, son of Haliru Bello, a former chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has been buried according to Islamic rites in Abuja, after prayers at the National Mosque. Police Public Relations Officer, DPS Anjuguri Manzah, in a chat with newsmen said that the suspect was arrested on Sunday night. He said that she would be charged to court after investigations have been concluded. According to the police, the investigation was being handled by its homicide department adding that investigation…

Three of the four suspects arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly robbing an artiste, Abiye Jumbo, aka Mr. 2Kay, have owned up to the crime. The suspects confessed that they carried out the operation on the orders of Mr. 2Kay’s colleague, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy. The suspects are Balogun Ademola, Obina Igwe, Tunmise Omotore and Joel Kantiok, who claimed to be Burna Boy’s road manager. This is just as the command asked Burna Boy to turn himself in, saying efforts to arrest him had proved abortive. It had been reported that Mr. 2Kay was attacked by…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan reached a milestone of 60 years today in his earth’s journey, with congratulatory messages from President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party and notably, former senate president David Mark. Although it is unclear whether there will be a ball to mark the day, what was conspicuously missing today are the usual adulatory newspaper advertisements from the large army of contractors, politicians, public officials and others. They seemed to have abandoned Jonathan to his fate as they failed to sing his praises the way they did when Jonathan marked his 57th birthday in…

Nigerian economy has continued to improve steadily as it grew by 1.4 per cent in the third quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has disclosed. In a clear indication of ongoing progress, the Nigerian economy has improved further, according to the latest GDP figures released by the NBS, with oil, agriculture and industrial sectors leading the charge. In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu, the Buhari administration welcomes the new growth figures, and will continue to work diligently on a daily basis to ensure inclusive growth. “The latest NBS GDP…

Tony Pulis has been sacked as West Brom head coach with the club a point above the Premier League relegation zone and without a win in 10 top-flight games. The Baggies were beaten 4-0 at home by Chelsea on Saturday. Albion won their first three games of the season, but have drawn four and lost seven since beating Accrington in the Carabao Cup on 22 August. Former West Brom manager Gary Megson, who had been Pulis’ assistant, is taking over “until further notice”. Chairman John Williams added: “These decisions are never taken lightly but always in the interests of the…