Author: Chronicle Editor

Three aides of Senate President Bukola Saraki are being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) over the alleged diversion of N19 billion out of the London-Paris loan refund of N522.7 billion. According to a report by The Nation, 15 accounts of some individuals and companies have been frozen as the probe deepened and even a damning report already submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.. Investigators of the agency have in the interim traced $183,000 (N71, 370,000) of the refund to a jeweller’s account in Dubai. The Nation, quoting from the damning report, said the anti-graft agency is probing,…

Runway repairs at Abuja international airport will continue for an 18-week period once the aviation hub re-opens next month, the Nigerian government said, promising that the work would be done overnight with no further disruption to flights. The Nigerian capital’s airport is currently closed for a first phase of repairs to its dilapidated runway, forcing airlines to reroute to Kaduna airport, which lies 160 km (100 miles) away in a region plagued by kidnappings in recent years. “After the Abuja airport re-opens for operations on April 19, upgrade works on the runway will continue for another 18 weeks,” a statement…

The Senate has summoned the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, to appear before it today and explain his side of the story regarding the certificate scandal allegation leveled against Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), that he did not graduate from the institution. Also to appear before the Senate today is the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd), over allegation that Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki was on a vengeance mission against the NCS, following failure to pay Customs duty of N74 million on a N298 million Range Rover SUV.…

Tanzanian rapper Emmanuel Elibariki, known as Nay wa Mitego, has been arrested for releasing a song deemed insulting to the government. The song emerged last week and has been widely shared on social media. One line in it asks: “Is there still freedom of expression in the country?” and refers to a “doctor” who can’t tolerate criticism. Nay wa Mitego’s arrest comes days after President John Magufuli warned media to be careful about exercising freedom. “Media owners, let me tell you: ‘Be careful. Watch it. If you think you have that kind of freedom – not to that extent,” Mr…

Six aid workers have been killed in an ambush in South Sudan, the UN says, in the deadliest single incident for humanitarians since the country’s civil war began. The “heinous murder” occurred on Saturday, said Eugene Owusu, the UN’s humanitarian chief in South Sudan. The UN did not say who the victims were or what aid agency they worked for. They were traveling between Juba, the capital, and the town of Pibor. At least 79 aid workers have been killed in South Sudan since the conflict started in December 2013, the UN says. “These attacks against aid workers and aid…

The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) secretary general Hicham El Amrani resigned on Sunday, just over a week after long-standing president Issa Hayatou was ousted from power following defeat to Madagascar’s Ahmad in the elections. El Amrani, in a letter to African football associations, said he would be departing on Monday, but gave no reason for his decision The 37-year-old Moroccan had served as secretary general for the last six years. Hayatou was deposed as Caf president 10 days ago at elections in Ethiopia, where six of his allies on the body’s executive committee also lost their positions. The 70-year-old…

…Construction Of Lekki Deep Sea Port To Commence In April- Ambode Investments into the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) an emerging business hub in the Lagos axis of the State has risen to over N100billion in the last 10 years. Chairman of Lekki Free Zone Development Company, Mr. Abiodun Dabiri who disclosed this at the weekend while giving progress report on the Zone to State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said more investors have indicated interest in coming to set up businesses in the Zone. Dabiri said the recent efforts by the Governor especially in the change of baton in the…

Bassey, one of the four housemates nominated for eviction by Ultimate Head of House, Efe on Monday has ended up being evicted from the ongoing TV reality show, Big Brother Nigeria. His eviction came on Sunday as he got the lowest votes cast by the public. Three other housemates billed for eviction— Bally, Debbie-Rise and Tboss — all survived. Debbie Rise broke into tears as Bassey left the house. In a brief chat with Ebuka, the anchor of the Sunday Live Eviction Show, Bassey said he was excited to have remained in the show for this long. “I never thought…

The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, has commenced investigation into alleged over N4 trillion revenue leakage in the Nigeria Customs Service between 2006 and 2016. The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, made this known in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja. He said that the committee would stop at nothing in recovering the money, which was lost to lapses and various infractions. He pointed out that preliminary investigation by the committee revealed that the over N4 trillion revenue leakage was due to abuse and non implementation of Form M (Foreign Exchange forms). He added…

The Netherlands on Sunday announced they have sacked head coach Danny Blind after two years in charge. The Dutch FA (KNVB) announced the decision in a statement after Blind, had been called in for crisis talks. His sacking follows a 0-2 defeat to Bulgaria on Saturday which leaves the Netherlands fourth in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying group at the halfway stage. “We have respect for what Danny meant to us and the team during his tenure. But because the results were not forthcoming, and because qualification for Russia has gone poorly so far, we felt the need to…