Author: Chronicle Editor

Royal Dutch Shell workers in Gabon on Thursday began an “unlimited” strike on all operations. The workers declared the indefinite strike in a letter the oil workers union wrote to employees. There was no immediate response from Shell, and the cause of the strike was not immediately clear. But the union in December called for better financial packages for employees and threatened to down tools. Gabon is Africa’s fourth largest oil producer and is an OPEC member. It’s daily output of around 220,000 barrels per day is dominated by international oil majors Total and Shell.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Feb. 10 to rule on whether or not it will dismiss the treason charges preferred against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The court would also rule on whether or not to quash the charges preferred against three other defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who were charged along with Kanu. Similarly, the court would give a ruling on an application bordering on the competence of the charge against Kanu, the first defendant. The four defendants are standing trial for alleged treasonable felony and terrorism. At…

Luther actor Idris Elba has put himself up for auction as a Valentine’s date to raise money for charity. In an online video, he offers bidders a “romantic evening” involving cocktails, food and “whatever your heart desires”. “I’ll let you pound my yams,” the 44-year-old star continues before downing a glass of champagne. Proceeds will go to WE (Women Everywhere) Can Lead, a charity organisation “working to empower and educate girls throughout Africa”. Hotel included The winner will join Elba for “a candlelit meal at one of his favourite restaurants”. Flights and accommodation at a four-star hotel are included, according…

The state-run Chinese media has continued to put on a brave front in the face of what appears will be a potentially very aggressive Trump administration. It said that once Trump officially takes over on January 20, he won’t have much room for “personal initiative” – read ‘caprice’ – in the White House like he does now in his Twitter “kingdom”. “Trump will face a number of thorny issues after taking office, some of which are left by Obama, and some are a result of his provocation to the norms. Trump will have less room for his personal initiative in…

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, will on Friday January 13, 2017 deliver judgement in a N1.9 billion oil subsidy theft charge brought against Walter Wagbatsoma, Adaoha Ugo- Ndagi and Ontario Oil & Gas Limited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. They are alleged to have on July 7, 2010 obtained the sum of N340, 000,000 by false pretence from the Federal Government purporting the money to be subsidy payable to Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited. The offence is among several others brought against them by the EFCC in a case of conspiracy,…

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic says forward Dimitri Payet no longer wants to play for the club – but insists they will not sell him. The 29-year-old France international has regularly been linked with a move away from West Ham. “We have said we don’t want to sell our best players but Payet does not want to play for us,” Bilic said. “We are not going to sell him.” Payet joined West Ham from Marseille for £10.7m in June 2015. He excelled in his first season with the club, scoring 12 goals and earning a nomination for the PFA…

Arsenal players Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Francis Coquelin have extended their contracts with the club. The Guuners did not disclose the length of the deals for striker Giroud, 30, defender Koscielny, 31, and midfielder Coquelin, 25. But Koscielny said on Twitter he would extend his “adventure … until 2020”. “We are very pleased that three important members of our team have committed to us for the long term,” Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said. When you've just signed your new deal… pic.twitter.com/0ECMigQeco— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 12, 2017 The French trio have become first-team regulars at the London outfit, with…

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a revised list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for legislative approval. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki read Buhari’s letter to the lawmakers during plenary on Thursday. The Senate had rejected the first version of the list due to over 250 petitions against the nominees, two of whom rejected their nomination. In the new list, while retired Justice George Oguntade (Lagos) and Ahmed Ibeto (Niger) maintained their nomination, several new names have emerged on the list. Details later…

The Jigawa State government, on Thursday explained why it has been pulling down churches in the state. The state government explained that places of worship affected in the ongoing demolition of houses were built illegally. The Executive Secretary of Urban Development Board, Alhaji Garba Isa, stated this while speaking with newsmen after the demolition of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, and Lord Chosen Church in Dutse, noting that the churches were built without permission as required by law. He said that because of the sensitivity of the matter, the board met with the leadership of the Christian Association…

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday reiterated his presidential ambitions, calling for joint efforts to bring together a nation suffering from a slew of economic, security and political challenges. Upon arriving at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Ban, a former foreign minister, fell short of officially declaring his presidential bid, but he stressed that he would “be with citizens for a change of politics, not for a change of government.” Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted him as saying: “I have already said that I am ready to give my all (for the country) and my determination remains unchanged,”…