Author: Chronicle Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke. In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari approved their dismissal after going through the report on their abuse of office. “President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, which investigated allegations against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir David Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence…

Twenty-three police were hurt and a police station was set on fire in demonstrations against financial reforms late Sunday in the Niger capital of Niamey, the interior minister and private TV stations reported. “The toll sadly is high: we have 23 injured policemen, four of them seriously hurt. Fourteen vehicles have been destroyed, 10 of them police vehicles,” Interior Minister Mohamed Bazoum said on television on Sunday. The police commissariat at the Habou Bene market, the country’s biggest trading spot, was torched and the front of the building housing the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), Niger’s voting watchdog, was vandalised,…

Donald Trump’s former presidential campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has been charged with conspiring to defraud the US in his dealings with Ukraine. The 12 charges brought against Mr Manafort and one of his business associates, Rick Gates, include conspiracy to launder money. They are the first charges in an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the US presidential election. Mr Manafort and his lawyer have arrived at an FBI office in Washington. An investigation headed by special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into any links between Russia and the Trump campaign. READ: Oil prices soar, nears $70 per barrel Both…

Oil markets were firm on Monday, with Brent crude opening above 60 dollars per barrel on expectations that OPEC-led production cut, due to expire next March would be extended. Brent crude oil futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at 60.63 dollars per barrel at 0018 GMT, up 19 cents or 0.3 per cent from their last settlement. That’s close to their highest level since July 2015 and up more than 36 per cent since their 2017 lows last June. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up by 16 cents, or 0.3 per cent, at 54.06 dollars…

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an Igbo socio-cultural group, has urged its people living in the north to court more friends so as to actualise the ethnic group’s quest to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023. The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the 19 northern states and Abuja. The meeting, held in Minna, ended Sunday night. READ: Anthony Joshua, Kwese put Sagamu in the spotlight The communique restated the group’s resolve to promote one indivisible Nigeria with equal opportunities for all, and urged Igbo people resident in the north to live in…

The heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Carlos Takam at the Principality Stadium was a global showpiece. It was one that got boxing and non-boxing fans staying up late but in Sagamu, Ogun State it was more than a fight. It was an opportunity for the people of the city to brag and lay a claim to the roots of Joshua, who is arguably the biggest heavyweight boxer around. On social media with #SagamuBoyOnKwese , Sagamu was trending for a justifiable reason. Hundreds of people had packed themselves into Joshua’s family house to watch the fight thanks to Kwese Nigeria.…

At least five people were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque in northeastern Nigeria, a militia member assisting the military against Boko Haram jihadists said. The leader of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ajiri Yala, some 15 kilometres (10 miles) north of Maiduguri, said the attack happened at about 4:30 am (0330 GMT). “A male suicide bomber disguised as a worshipper entered the mosque while people were gathering for the morning prayers,” he told AFP by telephone. “He detonated his explosives. He killed five people and injured several others.” Boko Haram…

Hollywood star Kevin Spacey has made an apology after being accused of making a sexual advance toward a child actor. Anthony Rapp, who was 14, said Spacey invited him to a party and seemed drunk when the alleged incident happened. Spacey, who was then 26, said: “I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. “But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour.” Rapp says he is sharing the story now after the Harvey Weinstein scandal. READ: Oyegun,…

All Progressives Congress (APC) bigwigs have welcomes Alhaji Danladi Sankara, former Senator representing Jigawa Northwest to the party after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Sankara was received by the Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru at the Malam Aminu Kano triangle Square on Sunday in Dutse. Badaru said that the defection of the former senator was a welcome development to the party in the state. The governor said that the APC had caught a big fish, for the entrance of Sankara to APC in view of his pedigree in his former party. READ: Lagos Police move against drug abuse,…

Champions Real Madrid suffered an embarrassing defeat at La Liga first-timers Girona and are now eight points behind league leaders Barcelona. Midfielder Portu back-heeled in the winner in the second half, four minutes after ex-Middlesbrough striker Cristhian Stuani’s equaliser. On-loan Manchester City full-back Pablo Maffeo and Portu both struck the woodwork for the home side. Isco had given Real a first-half lead by tapping in from close range. READ: Leicester 2-0 Everton: Claude Puel earns first win as visitors’ problems mount The result leaves Zinedine Zidane’s side in third place after 10 games behind unbeaten Barca and Valencia, while Girona…