Author: Chronicle Editor

Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson have withdrawn from the England squad for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil. They join Tottenham trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks in pulling out of Gareth Southgate’s selection. Chelsea defender Gary Cahill has joined up with the national team having been assessed by his club’s medical team. England host Germany at Wembley on Friday and then play Brazil at the same venue on 14 November. Manchester City winger Sterling and club team-mate Delph, who is a midfielder but has been playing at left-back, were both involved in their side’s 3-1…

Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President has been appointed into the United Nations, UN, High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation. Obasanjo was appointed into the Board alongside 17 other current and former global leaders. UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutierrez in a statement announced the establishment of the board, which he explained would advise him on mediation initiatives and back specific mediation efforts around the world. Gutierrez said the Board was established as part of the “surge in diplomacy for peace” which he has consistently advocated. In the announcement of the appointments, UN described the former Nigerian President as one of the most distinguished…

No fewer than 42 suspected armed robbers and cultists detained by the Special Anti Robbery Squad cell (SARS) in Yenagoa on Tuesday broke free from detention and escaped. A Policeman attached to the SARS who was drafted to cordon off the facility said that they were still taking stock of the number of inmates that had escaped. “The cell holds more than 50 suspects but it is empty, so it is difficult to give an accurate number until they check the records, but we hear that 42 criminals were being detained,” the Policeman said. READ: VAIDS begins extensive video campaign…

The family of former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, has dismissed reports making the rounds claiming that the elder statesman is dead. It could be recalled that barely a week ago, Ekwueme, reportedly collapsed and was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery, Enugu State. Following his critical condition, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved immediate medical treatment for the former Vice-President, abroad. Meanwhile, news broke on social media that Ekwueme passed on during the weekend in a London hospital. Read Also Boko Haram attack Madagali village in Adamawa However, the family has described the rumour of his…

The Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) office has launched a video campaign to create awareness about the programme, promote voluntary tax compliance and boost tax education among Nigerians. This was disclosed in a press statement by the VAIDS Office in the Federal Ministry of Finance, the initiator of the programme. According to the statement, the campaign, domiciled on YouTube, features short videos and skits depicting various scenarios of persons attempting to evade their taxes. By its provision, VAIDS gives tax defaulters a time-limited opportunity to regularize their tax affairs by truthfully declaring and paying tax liabilities. READ: NASS…

Nigeria’s national assembly made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives have suspended most of its activities in a bid to receive President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2018 budget. The Speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, has suspended the investigations of ad-hoc committee probing operational activities of telecommunications equipment and service companies and vendors in Nigeria. The ad-hoc committee which began its investigation on Monday 6 November told participating telcos that the hearing will be put on hold today. Other activities in both legislative houses have been suspended as well. President Muhammadu Buhari had last week said he…

The World Bank said that Nigeria had so far accessed less than 50 million dollars out of the 300 million dollars earmarked by the Bank for youth empowerment and other social works in the country. The World Bank’s Nigeria Lead Social Protection Specialist, Mr Foluso Okunmadewa, said this on Monday in Abuja at the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) Midterm Review Policy Level meeting. Okunmadewa said that the bank had in 2013, earmarked the fund to support federal and state government efforts to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable in the society. He said of recent,…

West Ham have appointed David Moyes as their new manager to take over from Slaven Bilic who was sacked on Monday. Negotiations for the 54-year-old former Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland boss progressed smoothly on Monday and a deal was agreed. Bilic left the club on Monday with the side in the Premier League relegation zone. It is anticipated Moyes will take training for the first time on Tuesday. READ: Harry Kane, Harry Winks out of England squad Former England and West Ham defender Stuart Pearce is thought to be lined up to join the backroom team. Goalkeeping coach Chris…

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government to halt its reported efforts to shut down online newspapers, blogs and websites perceived to constitute a “threat to national security”. Describing the move as a brazen violation of the Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, MRA threatened to lodge a complaint against Nigeria before regional and international human rights bodies if the Federal Government does not put a stop to the plan. In a statement in Lagos, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr Edetaen Ojo, said the surreptitious moves to clamp down on online media, attributed to the Nigerian Communications…

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect last night attacked Bakin Dutse village as they advanced to Gulak administrative headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The attack, which was ongoing at the time of this report, was confirmed by government officials and security sources.The army could not be reached for comment. When The Guardian contacted Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, via a text message in Abuja, he said: “Kindly call Colonel Kayode Ogunsanya, Deputy Director Army Public Relations 3 Division.”Ogunsanya however could not be reached as his phone was switched off as at the…