Author: Chronicle Editor

Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba State, has been ordered by a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, to begin his defence on March 8, 2017 after Justice Adebukola Banjoko, on February 14, 2017 dismissed his application for a “no-case” submission. Nyame, who is standing trial for a 41-count charge of criminal misappropriation of N1.64bn state funds, had on January 18, 2017 through his counsel, Charles Edosomwan, SAN, urged the court to “hold that the testimony of prosecution witnesses have been so damaged and can’t be relied on”, and “the crucial elements are missing in this case”. At…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 arraigned the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Professor Adebiyi G. Daramola and the Bursar, Emmanuel Oresegun before Justice S. A. Bola of the Ondo State High Court, Akure on a 9-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and conspiracy to steal to the tune of N156,984,455.33 (One Hundred and Fifty Six Million Nine Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty Five Naira Thirty Three Kobo). Their journey to the dock followed a petition received…

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, has described as crazy reports on social media insinuating that his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in London last week was staged. The rumour which made the rounds on social media yesterday, claimed that Tinubu dismissed the pictures posted of him and the President along with APC Chairman Board of Trustees, Chief Bisi Akande. Tinubu was quoted as saying that he was actually in Ibadan on the said day he was reportedly pictured with the President in London. In a statement by…

The Presidency has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is homesick and will be on his way to Nigeria any time soon. Garba Shehu, senior special assistant, media to the president, said this today on a live TV programme. Although Garba did not give specific time and day of Buhari’s arrival, he told his listeners to ‘get ready to see President Buhari any moment from today’. Any moment may be seven hours away, as a flight from London to Nigeria lasts between six and seven hours. President Buhari left Nigeria on vacation to the United Kingdom on 19 January. He was…

A Pakistani court has banned public celebrations of Valentine’s Day in the capital Islamabad while Indonesian students plan to spurn the event, as the festival of love gets a chilly reception in parts of Asia. Lonely hearts looking for romance in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore were warned to beware of the growth in online love scams, while grumpy protesters in Japan rallied in recent days for an end to public smooching. Monday’s decision by the Islamabad high court was the latest attempt by authorities in the conservative Muslim country to outlaw a celebration seen by many as a vulgar and…

Donald Trump’s national security advisor Michael Flynn resigned amid controversy over his contacts with the Russian government, a stunning first departure from the new president’s inner circle less than a month after his inauguration. The White House said Trump had accepted Flynn’s resignation amid allegations the retired three star general discussed US sanctions strategy with Russia’s ambassador Sergey Kislyak before taking office. Flynn — who once headed US military intelligence — insisted he was honored to have served the American people in such a “distinguished” manner. But he admitted that he “inadvertently briefed” the now Vice President Mike Pence with…

The much awaited telephone conversation between President Muhammadu Buhari and US President Donald Trump has taken place, with Buhari now in London, congratulating Trump on his ascendancy as US President. Trump in return invited Buhari to visit Washington at his earliest convenience. It was the first time that the two leaders would discuss and the telephone conversation was at Trump’s request, according to presidential adviser, Femi Adesina. The discussion took place Monday afternoon. The conversation was cordial and President Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States, and the constitution of his cabinet. The two leaders…

Nigeria’s acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Monday flagged-off the rebuilding of Doctors Quarters at the Rivers government owned Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, Port Harcourt. Osinbajo said at the occasion that the project is a special contribution to the creation of access to healthcare in the country. “It is my special privilege to lay this foundation stone of these doctors’ quarters at the Braithwaite Specialist Memorial Hospital. “It is very special because this is a special contribution to the creation of access to healthcare in the country. And especially the welfare of doctors who do the commendable work of ensuring the…

The Nigerian Government on Monday in Abuja inaugurated a committee to re-negotiate the 2009 FGN/ University Based Staff Unions Agreement. The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who performed the inauguration, said it was a demonstration of Federal Government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises. Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recenlty embarked on a one week warning strike over Federal Government’s failure to meet the terms of the 2009 agreement. Adamu said that team for the re-negotiation with the polytechnics and colleges of education would be constituted as soon as their respective governing councils were put in…

Dangote Group, controlled by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, plans to launch a rice mill with a farm scheme in Nigeria to tap growing demand for paddy in Africa’s biggest economy, the company said on Monday. Rice demand in Nigeria hit 6.3 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2015, with 2.3 million metric tonnes produced at home, leaving the country reliant on imports, according to the agriculture ministry. Dangote Group subsidiary Dangote Rice Ltd will launch a pilot project starting with 500 hectares of farmland by Gonroyo Dam, Nigeria’s second-largest dam, located in the northern state of Sokoto. The multi-million-dollar project…