Author: Chronicle Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dissociated itself from the activities of Pinnacle Trading & Investment stating that the company is not its auctioneer. Pinnacle Trading & Investment Nig. Ltd. who have been parading themselves as auctioneers purportedly appointed by the Commission to dispose of impounded petroleum products aboard MT Good Success and MT Asteris. The general public is hereby warned to refrain from engaging in any activity in relation to the auctioning of any vessel or petroleum product on behalf of the Commission, as EFCC has not duly authorized anyone to act on its behalf in that…

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has condemned acts of violence perpetrated by citizens against non-nationals, his office said on Friday. Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in South Africa against a background of near-record unemployment, with foreigners being accused of taking jobs from citizens and getting involved in crime. Citizens in Pretoria are set to march against foreigners on Friday and domestic media are reporting vandalism and acts of violence in the Atteridgeville area west of the capital. At least 20 stores in Pretoria owned by foreigners were looted on Tuesday, but police could not confirm that the attacks had deliberately…

With Nigerian telecommunication companies, MTN, Globacom, Smile, ntel, Etisalat and others still grappling to properly deploy 4G technology, more advanced countries seem to have moved ahead. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has completed a cycle of studies on the key performance requirements of the next generation mobile networks (5G technology). A working group of ITU conducted the study for the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)-2020 systems. The ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, in a statement, said 5G mobile systems would provide lightning speed, ultra-reliable communications for broadband and the Internet of Things (IoT). ITU is the UN agency which coordinates telecommunication operations…

Champions League chasing Claudio Ranieri appeared to have a plan to conquer Europe all in place. His team, Leicester finished top in the group and managed to get an away goal in their 2-1 loss to Sevilla. But even that was not enough to save Ranieri at Leicester following a dismal league form this season. The Foxes are one point above the relegation zone with 13 matches left. Last year’s heroics that led them to the Premier League title seems to have eluded them as the Foxes have struggled week after week in the league. “The board reluctantly feels that…

Former Manchester City and Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini appears to be leading candidate to succeed sacked Claudio Ranieri as the English champions battle to stay out of relegation. It must be assumed Leicester’s owners have a new man in mind to make such a seismic move as sacking Ranieri. Combustible former manager Nigel Pearson was even linked with a return, but one live contender appears to be Ranieri’s compatriot Roberto Mancini. He is available, had a short spell as a Leicester player in 2001 and has Premier League experience as a manager. Mancini led Manchester City from December 2009…

Jamie Vardy broke his recent goal-drought to give Leicester an away goal and keep alive their hopes of reaching the last eight of the Champions League despite a narrow first-leg defeat in Sevilla. The England international had gone nine games without scoring and was a peripheral figure for much of Wednesday’s game but sprang into life to finish Danny Drinkwater’s superb cross with 17 minutes remaining in Spain. It was one of only two shots on target the Foxes produced during a game in which they were largely under the cosh and had trailed 2-0 in thanks to Pablo Sarabia’s…

Manchester United eased into the last 16 of the Europa League with victory at Saint-Etienne but goalscorer Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be out of Sunday’s EFL Cup final after limping off. Leading 3-0 from the first leg thanks to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick, United started sharply in front of a noisy home support at a stadium often referred to as ‘The Cauldron’, with Mkhitaryan flicking in Juan Mata’s cross early on to leave the hosts needing five goals. The Armenian departed shortly after and clutched his hamstring as he entered the tunnel, an injury which could impact on manager Jose Mourinho’s…

Real Madrid were put to the sword by Simone Zaza as Valencia ruined Cristiano Ronaldo’s 700th club football appearance by winning 2-1 at the Mestalla. Ronaldo scored with a towering header but the night belonged to the Italian international whose sensational first half strike will have West Ham supporters scratching their heads as to which Zaza it was they signed on loan last summer. This was the chance for Real Madrid to go four points clear of Barcelona in the first of two games in hand but it was Zaza voom after just five minutes when the West Ham flop,…

The Senate has given Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs), until February 22 and 23 to defend their 2017 budget proposals. The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who gave the ultimatum at plenary on Wednesday, decried the non-challant attitude of some ministers and heads of agencies towards budget defence. He expressed concern that few persons would hold the country to ransom for refusal to defend their budgets. According to him, the National Assembly would have finished with the budget defence a week ago if not for the delay by MDAs. “We are adjourning plenary to allow the committees to…

The Federal High Court Abuja, has fixed February 23 to rule on an application to subpoena the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki to testify in the ongoing trial of former PDP spokesman, Olisah Metuh. The court would also rule on whether or not to order the release of Metuh’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, fixed the ruling on Wednesday after listening to arguments of counsel to both parties. Counsel to Metuh, Mr Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN) said that Dasuki’s testimony in the matter was very crucial. According to him,…