Author: Chronicle Editor

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has dropped the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Augustine Nwankwagu, from the cabinet with immediate effect. Chief Clement Nweke, Principal Secretary to the Governor, via a statement issued on Thursday in Abakaliki, said Nwankwagu was dropped for “acts inconsistent with his office.” READ: Female lawyer wants bride price scrapped According to Nweke, Nwankwagu, who was a former Speaker, Ebonyi House of Assembly, is to handover all government property in his possession to the permanent secretary in the ministry. “This directive should be carried out before close of work on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017,” he…

A female lawyer in Zimbabwe has mounted a legal challenge to abolish lobola, or the bride price, saying it is an outdated practice which reduces women to mere “properties”, the state-run Herald newspaper reports. Priccilar Vengesai believes that if the custom is maintained, the families of both the bride and groom should pay lobola in the interest of gender equality, the newspaper adds. She has filed papers in Zimbabwe’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, asking it to hear her case on the grounds that the practice violates her rights as a citizen. READ: Herdsmen: Benue bans open cattle grazing The…

A controversial ban on open cattle grazing comes into force today in south-east Nigeria’s Benue state. It follows violent clashes between cattle herders and local farmers last year over rights to grassland. Hundreds of people were killed in the violence and whole communities destroyed. READ: New York truck attack suspect ‘spent a year planning’ The state government says the new law will affect everyone and all livestock must be kept on ranches. Fulani herdsmen say they’re being targeted and have described the law as a recipe for anarchy. But the Benue government says its aim is to restore peace. Anyone…

The main suspect in the New York truck rampage that killed eight people on Tuesday has told investigators he began planning the attack a year ago. Sayfullo Saipov, 29, said he intended to kill as many people as possible and “felt good” about the Halloween attack. The Uzbek immigrant, who faces federal terrorism charges, says he was inspired by so-called Islamic State. He was shot and injured by police at the scene. US President Donald Trump tweeted that he should receive the death penalty. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/925931294705545216 The charges filed against Mr Saipov are federal, which means the government can override New…

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Wednesday met with representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for the welfare of Nigerian students on scholarships abroad now stranded due to non-payment of their living allowances and tuition fees by relevant government agencies. The Senate in plenary had mandated the President of the Senate to intervene and know why Nigerian students on scholarships in foreign countries are yet to be paid their scholarship funds. Saraki at the meeting which was attended by the Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chairman Senate Committees on Tertiary Education and TETFUND and other Senators…

Mauricio Pochettino was not hiding his ambitions or Tottenham’s aspirations after they illuminated Wembley with a magnificent Champions League victory over holders Real Madrid. Spurs manager Pochettino saw enough to say they can now keep company with the best in Europe as well as England – and few would argue with the Argentine based on the compelling evidence offered in a thrilling 3-1 win. Pochettino now wants Spurs to cross the threshold from progress to the tangible reward of trophies having previously made it clear he regards the Premier League and Champions League as the serious prizes. So how significant…

Three Nigerian players are now in line for consideration for continental football awards in January after being listed among nominees by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The three players include overseas-based Victor Moses and William Troost-Ekong who have been nominated for the African Player of the Year award. Egypt-based Junior Ajayi who plays for Egyptian side Al Ahly has also been nominated for the African Player of the Year Based in Africa 2017 award. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 30 players each have been nominated for the two topmost categories of the awards. The winner of…

A draft law to ease a dollar shortage by restricting movement of hard currency in and out of Nigeria passed its second reading in the national assembly on Wednesday. A dearth of dollars since crude prices slumped in 2014, slashing government revenues, prompted a recession in 2016 that Africa’s largest economy exited in the second quarter of this year. Oil sales are Nigeria’s main source of foreign exchange. READ: Buhari summons Kyari, Oyo-Ita after FEC clash During the currency crunch most businesses have sought dollars on the black market where the local naira, at the start of the year, traded…

President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, over their clash at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The fierce crossfire between Kyari and Oyo-Ita, which occurred shortly before the Federal Executive Council meeting, was believed to have been caused by the leaked memo, which Oyo-Ita sent to Kyari on the controversial reinstatement and posting of the embattled former chairman of the Pension Reforms Commission, Abdulrasheed Maina. A source at the meeting said Kyari accused Oyo-Ita of leaking the memo, which she wrote…

The Value Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) has collected data of over five million corporate organisations and individuals in the country. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the VAIDS office in the Federal Ministry of Finance. According to the statement, data collected will be subjected to further analysis to ensure that all unpaid taxes are tracked and collected. The VAIDS office also discolsed that the second phase of its data mining initiative, which starts this month, is aimed at obtaining data from all other government revenue-generating agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). READ: Jide…