Author: Chronicle Editor

The Senate has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for responding to the motion moved during a plenary session by Senator Kabiru Marafa, chairman, Committee on Petroleum Downstream Sector, on the theft of petroleum products kept in the farm tanks of two oil companies and urged the corporation to take more radical measures to avoid recurrence. In a statement by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the legislative chamber advised that NNPC should go beyond the sacking and redeployment of a few officials but initiate a comprehensive restructuring of its operations which presently allow officials and other firms to…

The Fate of the Furious has raced to the top of the box office chart – breaking an international record in the process. The eighth film in the action thriller franchise took an estimated $532.5m (£424.7m) globally over Easter weekend. The figure makes it the strongest worldwide debut ever – marginally overtaking the $529m (£421.8m) taken by Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, the film’s US takings were down sharply on the previous movie. Furious 7 took $147.2m (£117.3m) in the US when it was released in 2015 – but the latest instalment of the series opened with $100.2m (£80m).…

Hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails are beginning a mass hunger strike in protest against their conditions. The action is being led by Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader jailed by Israel for life for five murders. Barghouti, a key figure in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction, has been touted as a possible future successor to Mr Abbas. There are fears the protest could fuel tensions across the occupied West Bank. According to Israel’s prison service, 1,187 Palestinians in Israeli prisons are joining the hunger strike, which coincides with the annual Palestinian Prisoners Day. The issue of Palestinians held…

By Livinus Acholonu Sad to see Dr. Reuben Abati, the former presidential spokesperson, a man I consider gifted, reduced to a figure of fun and exposed to torrents of social media attacks over his recent article, Television as Madness. Abati’s attackers have been so vicious that some of the things written about him, in adherence to community standards, are better left out. The article reviewed the just concluded Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show, produced by MultiChoice. While the former presidential aide admitted the show producers got many things right, he devoted a large of his article to savaging the…

A Montana State University professor is suing Walmart for libel after he says an employee at the Bozeman store listed his occupation on a fishing license as a “toilet cleaner.” Gilbert Kalonde, assistant professor of technology education at MSU, filed the suit this past week in Gallatin County District Court. Kalonde is seeking unspecified damages from Walmart which is one of the world’s largest retailer, known for selling household essentials at a low price. Walmart spokesman Ragan Dickens told The Associated Press: “To our knowledge an administrative process to resolve this with Dr. Kalonde is ongoing. “We’ve not been served…

South Korea’s ousted President Park Geun-Hye was on Monday charged with bribery involving millions of dollars over the corruption scandal that sparked her downfall. Park, whose impeachment was confirmed by Seoul’s top court last month, also faces charges of abusing her powers and leaking state secrets, Seoul prosecutors probing the scandal said in a statement. “We have formally charged Park… with multiple offences including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking state secrets,” they said after wrapping up the months-long investigation. Park is accused of colluding with her confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is already on trial, in coercing local conglomerates…

The Federal Government says its anti corruption agencies have been inundated with information on how treasury looters have resorted to burying stolen funds in their backyards, deep forests and graveyard. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this on Sunday in Lagos, said the whistleblowing policy is working and has led to the recovery of more looted funds in many currencies. Mohammed assured in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Mr Segun Adeyemi, that all the recovered looted funds were safe and government will give full account to Nigerians. The minister thanked Nigerians for their…

A week before France’s presidential election, the four top candidates began a final push Sunday to woo undecided voters who will determine the outcome of a tight race between the hard left, centre, right and far right. On April 23, the French will vote in the first round of the country’s most unpredictable election in decades. Two of the 11 candidates will go through to a decisive run-off on May 7. The presidential election is being closely watched in Brussels and around the world, with a duel between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and surging leftist radical Jean-Luc Melenchon, both…

Abductors of two Turkish expatriates in Akwa Ibom have demanded N200 million to release them. The victims were abducted on Monday, 10th April from their Airstrip Hotel room in Eket Local Government Area of the state. A security source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the abductors had been in touch with the BKS Construction Company in Onna local government where the expatriates work. He said that the abductors contacted the construction company and demanded N200 million to release them. READ: Nigeria: Gunmen assassinate Council Secretary “The abductors have demanded the sum of N200 million before the victims…

Unidentified gunmen have killed the newly sworn-in Ukanafun Local Government Area Secretary, Mr Ime Atakpa. Atakpa was shot on his farm in his backyard at Ukanafun on Sunday, according to reports. His wife, Imo , who disclosed this to newsmen , said they went to Ukanafun for Easter service. She said, prior to the church’s service they decided to check on some pigs in the farm. While she and the children were in the house, she heard gunshots. READ: Gunmen kill Bayelsa-based journalist When she tried to find where the sound of the gunfire emanated, she saw four masked men…