Author: Chronicle Editor

France has expressed commitment to the unity of Nigeria and denied allegations that it is the headquarters of sources of funds of secessionists. Information and culture minister Lai Mohammed had said it was the major country with those funding the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). “Let me tell you, the financial headquarters is in France, we know…You have to block the sources of finance.” the minister was quoted as saying. French embassy in Nigeria has denied the allegation, stating that it has no knowledge of IPOB activities in France. Mr. Claude Abily, Political Counsellor in the embassy, said in…

Liverpool and Manchester United fans have been told there will be a “visible police presence” in Moscow next week. The Premier League clubs both have Champions League group matches in the Russian capital. A combined total of 2,000 fans will make the 3,200-mile round trip from the north-west with Liverpool playing Spartak Moscow on Tuesday and United taking on CSKA Moscow a day later. READ: Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham to dump England for Nigeria United have told fans “not to wear club colours” or “walk around Moscow alone”. Liverpool say the Russian authorities are aware the two clubs are in…

Diego Costa says he holds no animosity towards Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as he prepares to complete his return to Atletico Madrid. Chelsea announced on Thursday that they had agreed to sell the Spain international back to Atletico for a fee understood to be over £50m, subject to personal terms and a medical. Costa was deemed surplus to requirements by Conte in the summer, despite scoring 20 goals in 35 appearances last season as Chelsea cruised to the Premier League title. Read Also Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham to dump England for Nigeria The 28-year-old refused to return to Chelsea’s Cobham…

Nigeria’s rating as the second country with highest maternal death rate in the world and its contribution of 15 per cent of annual global death is causing anxiety in health sector. Experts say the worrisome situation calls for concerted efforts of all stakeholders to bail the country out. The medical experts described the situation as unacceptable as recent rating puts Nigeria’s maternal mortality at 58,000 in 2015. The rating is contained in a joint report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). The report was presented by Dr Olusola…

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Ag.CP Edgal Imohimi, on Thursday said that the command had arrested nine policemen, one traffic warden and two others over alleged corruption. Imohimi told newsmen that the arrest was a follow up to his warning to officers and men of his command to guide against corruption and unprofessional conducts. He said the X-Squad unit had intensified its activities to ensure zero tolerance to corruption and unruly practices by police officers and men of the Lagos State Police Command. “In the light of this, operatives of the X-Squad have been out day and night…

The Tin-Can Island Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 2,671 pump action rifles imported from Turkey through profiling approach. The Comptroller-General of NCS, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, told journalists in Lagos on Thursday that the seizure was the fourth at the Lagos port within eight months. He said that “following increased arms seizures in recent times, the Customs Area Controller of Tin-Can Port, Comptroller Yusuf Bashar, ordered a detailed profile of all imports, especially those coming from Turkey. “Customs decided to follow profiling approach of 100 per cent examination on containers, especially those from Turkey. “Tin-Can Customs command…

L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, the world’s richest woman whose old age was clouded by dementia, has died at the age of 94, her family said on Thursday. “Liliane Bettencourt died last night at home,” her daughter Francoise Bettencourt Meyers said in a statement. “My mother left peacefully.” Bettencourt, the cosmetics giant’s principal shareholder, was the 14th richest person in the world, according to Forbes magazine, which estimated her net worth in March at $39.5 billion (33 billion euros). Read Also EFCC arrests 30-year old Nigerian for tax fraud She was rarely seen in public since leaving the L’Oreal board in…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos zonal office, has arrested a suspected Internet fraudster, Ake Oluseun, for tax fraud. The 30-year-old suspect, a graduate of Computer and Information Science, was arrested in Lagos, following intelligence report. Sometime in January this year, the suspect, who owns Canbit Music, Canbit Resources (Nig.) Limited, Istartup Enterprise and Volta Company, allegedly sent an email to an employee of an American company requesting for the W-2s of the staff. The W-2 form shows the reports of an employee’s annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from his or her pay cheque, which…

On-loan Chelsea starlet Tammy Abraham could play for Nigeria at senior international level despite winning nine Under 21 caps for England. Nigerian Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick, who is a friend of the striker’s father, has promised 19-year-old Abraham a place in the squad for next year’s World Cup, should the Super Eagles qualify for Russia 2018. But a Sportsmail source close to Abraham insisted on Thursday that the teenager has not yet made a decision on his international future and that he is more than happy to remain part of the England U21 setup. Abraham was born in Camberwell,…

Manchester United has reported record revenues of £581m for the 2017 financial year, as TV cash soared. In a year when it won the Europa League and EFL Cup, the club also signed 12 sponsorship deals, and saw commercial and matchday revenues increase. The club benefitted from a huge rise in domestic TV revenues during 2016-17, the first season in the current three-year UK broadcasting deal. The Old Trafford club is currently second in the Premier League. READ: FIFA investigate Chelsea, Man City over youth players signing It has the same number of points and goal record as leaders Manchester…