Author: Chronicle Editor

Tottenham’s pursuit of Premier League leaders Chelsea was dealt a big blow as Manuel Lanzini’s fierce finish earned victory for London rivals West Ham. Spurs could have narrowed the gap to a point with victory at London Stadium, but were well below par as the Hammers helped Chelsea close on the title. Hammers keeper Adrian made first-half saves from Harry Kane and Eric Dier before Lanzini smashed in a loose ball. Chelsea need two wins from their final four games to be crowned champions. Tottenham must hope the Blues slip up in a favourable-looking run-in, which includes home games against…

The Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, on Friday in Abuja, formally presented the key to the three-bedroom bungalow promised the father of Quintuplet. Mrs. Oyo-Ita, who was represented by Yemi Adelakun, Permanent Secretary Common Services Office, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, presented the key to Imudia Uduehi. “Thank God for giving us the opportunity to be here, this is a promise we have made and thank God it has come to fruition. “That is to tell you that when the government of Nigeria makes a promise she fulfils it. “This is not the time to…

The Northern Youth Council, NYC, the umbrella body of all youth organisations in the northern part of Nigeria, on May 4, 2017, adjudged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as the “Best Anti-Corruption Agency in Africa”. Secretary of the council, Abdul-Salam Kazeem, who made the declaration during a visit to the EFCC Headquarters, noted that the decision to so acknowledge the anti-graft agency was in recognition of the vigour with which the agency under its acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, was executing the war against corruption. While presenting the Certificate of Honour to Magu, he said, “We appreciate you and…

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday observed the Juma’at prayers inside a mosque located inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He was joined for the two-rakat prayers by top government officials, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. There have been uproar over the president’s ill-health which the presidency claimed was not as serious as being painted in the public by the media. President Muhammadu Buhari discussing with NSA Babagana Munguno immediately after observing Juma'at Prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. pic.twitter.com/0HKLE3uMHo— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 5, 2017 The former…

Lionel Messi is free to represent Argentina in their World Cup qualifiers after his four-match international ban was overturned on appeal. The 29-year-old Barcelona forward was suspended for directing “insulting words” at an assistant referee during a 1-0 win over Chile in March. He missed one match – Argentina’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bolivia. A FIFA appeal committee said while his behaviour was “reproachable”, the evidence was not sufficient. He will now be available for matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru as Argentina fight to secure a place at next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia. A fine…

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode seems to be gearing up for the grand finale of ‘Lagos At 50’ in some style. The usually business-minded Ambode took time off work to show some of his jazz skills at the runway jazz special edition 2017 which held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Here are some pictures from the night out. Forex stability excites Buhari – CBN Governor

Two Nigerian officials have been jailed for selling food aid meant for people fleeing militant attacks and food shortages in the country’s north-east. The two sold 180 bags of rice donated by an international aid agency, the court in Maiduguri, Borno State, heard. They were jailed for two years and fined 1m naira ($3,200; £2,500) each. More than two million people have been displaced in north-eastern Nigeria where security forces are battling Islamist militant group Boko Haram. Nigerien President’s visit to Buhari postponed‎ indefinitely The prosecution of the two officials was brought by Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the EFCC. Umar Ibrahim,…

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised more money from a sale of treasury bills than originally planned at an auction this week after it priced its one-year debt to yield more than inflation, in a bid to support the currency. The CBN raised 230.60 billion naira ($733 million) at an auction on Wednesday, 80.60 billion naira more than it originally planned to sell, data showed on Friday. Treasury bill sales support the currency by draining some of the naira in the market, thereby making the naira slightly stronger against the dollar. The central bank has been intervening since February…

India’s Supreme Court on Friday upheld death sentences against four men who fatally gang raped a woman on board a bus in 2012. The crime sparked widespread protests and drew international attention to violence against women. Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh were convicted and handed death sentences by lower courts for the fatal rape of Jyoti Singh, which they challenged in the Supreme Court. “It’s a barbaric crime and it has shaken the society’s conscience,” Justice R. Banumathi told a packed courtroom as the three-judge Supreme Court panel threw out an appeal on behalf of the…

No fewer than 579,540 children under the age of five were immunised against polio in Ekiti State during the first round of the National Immunisation Plus Days carried out recently. The Director of Primary Health in the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Joshua Ileke, who made this known in Ado Ekiti on Friday during a meeting of stakeholders in the state health sector, said the figure represents 87 per cent coverage of the 667,145 children targeted in the 177 wards across the state. He disclosed that Emure Local Government recorded the highest coverage in the state with…