Author: Chronicle Editor

Michael Emenalo has ended his 10-year association with Chelsea following his sudden departure as the club’s technical director as questions continue to mount over Antonio Conte’s managerial reign at the club. The news surrounding the 52-year-old, who could be set to join Monaco, will come as a major blow to owner Roman Abramovich. Abramovich had used the Nigerian as a sounding board in west London – with him among the few people he trusted and took advice from. “This has been a very difficult decision to make, but one I believe is right for both myself and my family, and…

Former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo has announced he is retiring from football after playing his last game for New York City. The 38-year-old won 116 caps for Italy and helped them win the 2006 World Cup. Pirlo began his career at Brescia and also played for Inter, AC Milan and Juventus before joining the Major League Soccer side two years ago. READ: West Ham hold talks with David Moyes “Not only [is it that] my adventure in New York comes to an end but my journey as a football player as well,” he said. pic.twitter.com/6TY539vB9z— Andrea Pirlo (@Pirlo_official) November 6,…

Niger Delta minister, Usani Uguru Usani on Monday said the government was ready to meet militants days after they called off a year-long ceasefire. Usani asked the Niger Delta Avengers to be patient and said the government was pushing through development schemes in the southern territory where rights groups have long complained about poverty and pollution. The Avengers – whose attacks on energy facilities in the Niger Delta last year helped push Africa’s biggest economy into recession – called off the ceasefire on Friday. The announcement threatened to push one of Nigeria’s economic heartlands further into turmoil and disrupt the…

Three men, who allegedly hacked the Facebook account of Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and defrauded him of N9, 188, 100 million, were today, re-arraigned before a Federal High Court. The three suspects, Frank Nwokobia, 27, Ezeoke Kanayochukwu, 25, and Godwin Essien, 28, were re-arraigned before Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo court, on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, impersonation and identity theft, by the men of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos. The three defendants were formally arraigned during the court’s long vacation on the same count charges, before Justice (Professor) Chuka…

Daria Media has announced two unique and ground-breaking initiatives targeted at revolutionizing journalism practice in Nigeria. The company, which is promoted by Kadaria Ahmed, former BBC journalist, editor of 234next and host of the Channels TV talk show, Straight Talk and The Core, will be holding a 3-city journalism training for aspiring journalists. The three cities are Kano, where she went to school; Uyo, where she served out her National Youth Service and Lagos where she works and calls home. The training will pay especial attention to the worrisome fake news phenomena and unwholesome PR gimmicks which have dogged the…

A British hostage kidnapped last month in southern Nigeria has been killed and three others freed, the Foreign Office (FCO) has confirmed. Ian Squire was one of four Britons taken by suspected militants on 13 October from the oil-rich Delta area. The British High Commission and Nigerian authorities negotiated the release of Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Shirley Donovan. READ: Bayelsa denies taking new N40bn loan The FCO said it had been a “traumatic time” for those involved. An FCO spokesperson said that Nigerian authorities were investigating the kidnapping, adding: “Our staff will continue to do all we can to…

The Bayelsa Government has denied media reports that it was taking a fresh N40 billion loan on Monday. Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the state Commissioner for Information, denied the reports in a statement on Monday in Yenegoa. Iworiso-Markson said that the state government only approached the State House of Assembly for the restructuring of repayment of the N40 billion earlier borrowed. He said that the request made to the state House of Assembly was for approval to restructure existing N40 billion loan so as to complete ongoing projects was not a fresh loan. READ: Edwin Clark urge Niger Delta Avengers to…

West Ham held talks with former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes while Salven Bilic’s future was being reviewed, BBC reports. Speaking to Bein Sports on Sunday, the Scot denied there had been contact, but said he wanted to return to club management and was “interested” in the West Ham job. Moyes said: “I’ve always said I want to go back into club management. If the right opportunity comes around, I’ll be interested.” READ: West Ham sack manager Slaven Bilic His most recent managerial job was at Sunderland – he resigned after they were relegated to the Championship in…

Slaven Bilic has been sacked as West Ham manager with the team in the Premier League relegation zone. Bilic’s last game in charge was Saturday’s 4-1 defeat by Liverpool at London Stadium. West Ham said the club believed a change was necessary “to move forward positively and in line with their ambition”. Former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes has been strongly linked with succeeding Bilic. Speaking to reporters as he left West Ham’s training ground, Bilic – who was appointed in the summer of 2015 – said: “There are no hard feelings. I can be very proud of…

Edwin Clark, the head of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged Niger Delta Avengers not to resume attacks on pipelines, urging them to try peace talks. Clark and other community leaders in Nigeria’s oil-rich south on Monday urged militants not to resume attacks on pipelines but give peace talks with the government another chance. The Niger Delta Avengers group last week threatened to resume its targeting of oil and gas infrastructure that in 2016 led to a slump in output that helped tip Nigeria into recession. Clark, the head of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) set up…