Author: Chronicle Editor

Nigeria’s Presidency on Saturday confirmed the release of the 82 Chibok schoolgirls after three years in captivity and also revealed how their freedom was negotiated. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said the girls were released by their captors in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the Federal Government. In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, he conveyed President Buhari’s happiness over the successful negotiations leading to the release of the affected girls. President Buhari, he said, also commended the nation’s security agencies for their efforts in ensuring…

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the whistle blowing bill pending before the Senate. The conference made the call in a communiqué signed by the Chairman, Mr Abdumumin Kamba in Uyo on Saturday. The communique commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for the great feat so far achieved in the fight against corruption. The conference called for strong synergy among agencies charged with responsibility of fighting the menace of corruption and to do it within the ambit of the…

Ilie Nastase has been banned from the French Open after his behaviour at the Fed Cup, organisers have announced. Romania’s Fed Cup captain is currently under investigation for comments he made about Serena Williams’ unborn child. Williams accused Nastase of racism after he was heard asking if the child would be “chocolate with milk”. He also insulted British player Johanna Konta and captain Anne Keothavong. Nastase was told on Wednesday he would not be welcome at Wimbledon. The 70-year-old former world number one won the French Open in 1973. A statement on the official Roland Garros Twitter account said that…

As preparations heat up for his relocation to Israel, Prophet T.B. Joshua, founder of Synagogue Church of All Nation has revealed the mystery behind his power. The founder made this revelation in a documentary currently airing on national Israeli television, Reshet TV about the impending arrival of the Nigerian cleric. Prophet Joshua had declared his intention to leave Nigeria and relocate his ministry to the nation of Israel, which is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ. He told his congregation that he had just returned from the ‘Holy Land’ where he held meetings with three prominent Israeli mayors…

Nigeria has secured the release of 82 more Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants more than three years ago. The girls, according to government sources, were released today after negotiation with the militants. This brings to 103 the girls already freed the Boko Haram militants. The first batch of 21 were freed last october with the aid of the Red Cross and a Switzerland. Three other girls walked into freedom on their own, making grand total of 106 girls freed from the clutches of Boko Haram. ‘They are now at Banki, a border town and will be flown to…

Swansea City leapfrogged Hull City to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone with two games remaining after Fernando Llorente headed the winner against Everton. Llorente got the better of Phil Jagielka to nod Jordan Ayew’s cross past goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from close range – the Spaniard’s 13th league goal of the season. Mason Holgate’s last-ditch challenge prevented Alfie Mawson from making it 2-0 before Ayew hit the post from 16 yards. Hull, who earlier lost 2-0 at home to relegated Sunderland, drop into the bottom three, while this result also means Middlesbrough will be relegated to the Championship…

Real Madrid moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga after thrashing Tony Adams’ Granada side. Real made nine changes and were without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but took the lead within three minutes and were 4-0 up after only 35 minutes. James Rodriguez scored from Lucas Vazquez’s pull-back, before Rodriguez headed in a second shortly afterwards. Alvaro Morata blasted in a third and then shot into the top corner for a fourth to seal the easy victory. Barcelona had beaten Villarreal 4-1 to move three points clear earlier on Saturday, before Real’s dominant victory…

Barcelona kept the heat on Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga as their MSN frontline passed 100 goals for the season in a clinical 4-1 win over Villarreal. Fran Escriba’s men came into the game having conceded just 10 goals on their travels all season, fewer than any side in LaLiga. And fittingly, it was Barca’s best that settled the contest as Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez each netted. Cedric Bakambu had briefly caused concern with an equaliser that exposed the defensive flaws that have hampered Luis Enrique’s men all season. But the first of Messi’s two strikes…

Two apparent residents of a Boston luxury condominium have been found dead inside the building, the police said. Adding that the suspect in their deaths was shot multiple times after exchanging gunfire with police officers, police said. Officers were called to the Macallen Building on Friday night in the South Boston neighborhood in response to a report of a man with a gun. Commissioner William B. Evans says a man, identified as Bampumim Teixeira, of Chelsea, fired on the officers when they confronted him at the door of a penthouse condo and police fired back. Police say the 30-year-old Teixeira…

Former Enugu state governor, Sullivan Chime has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress, APC describing the ruling party as the only viable party in the country. At a ceremony in Udi local council of the state today, Chime said he was crossing with thousands of his supporters to the ruling party. National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun formally received Chime into the APC fold. On Wednesday, Chime had said his decision to join the APC was to provide direction for upcoming politicians in the State. Chime had on March 16 this year, announced that…