Author: Chronicle Editor

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) workers have suspended their three-day nationwide warning strike. The union made the announcement Wednesday night. Similarly, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) dropped its planned industrial action over similar complaints in the oil and gas sector. The association had issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to resolve the issues. The developments were the outcome of a meeting with officials of Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Labour and employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, and representatives of multinational oil companies in Abuja. All issues have been addressed…

West Ham are close to wrapping up the transfer of Brentford striker Scott Hogan in a deal worth £15m, having had three earlier bids for the 24-year-old rejected. (Sun) Chelsea are lining up Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson, 23, as their number one target to replace John Terry when he heads to China in the summer. (Daily Mirror) But Chelsea club captain Terry, 36, will not be leaving the club before the end of the season despite being linked with a loan move to Bournemouth. (Sky Sports) However, a conflicting report claims Terry will indeed speak to Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe…

In Ghana, the screening of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ministerial is scheduled to begin on January 20 by Parliament’s Appointments Committee. To this end, Parliament, on Wednesday, adjourned sitting to enable the committee do its job. According to reports emanating from the legislative arm of government, a public notice is expected to be sent out soon to receive necessary information from the public on the nominees so as to aid the work of the Appointment Committee. It would be recalled that President Akufo-Addo has so far released the names of 25 nominees for Parliament’s consideration and approval. The third…

On Thursday, the House of Representatives will debate a motion, which will determine if Gambian President Yahaya Jammeh will be granted asylum in Nigeria. The move is part of efforts to broker peace and ensure transition in the West African country. The motion is being sponsored by Rep Mohammed Sani Zorro (APC, Jigawa). It was supposed to be taken yesterday, but was postponed. Zorro said Nigeria should consider the option if it will lead to Jammeh relinquishing power to Barrow. When Speaker Yakubu Dogara put the motion to a voice vote, the majority of the lawmakers shouted ‘nay,’ but the…

The EFCC has made a startling discovery about former Enugu State Chief Judge Innocent Azubuike Umezulike’s: Detectives found N632.2 million in his bank account, reinforcing the reason for his involuntary retirement. The agency also found that the lodgements came from lawyers, businessmen, politicians and litigants. According to The Nation newspaper, Justice Umezulike was believed to have operated the account without a Bank Verification Number (BVN). The former Chief Judge has been invited for interrogation on January 17 on some of the “shocking” lodgments. The NJC on September 29, 2016 recommended Justice Umezulike for compulsory retirement alongside Justice Mohammed Tsamiya, who…

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has described midfielder, Marouane Fellaini, as a very important player to his plans and tactics at Old Trafford. United have triggered a clause in Marouane Fellaini’s contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2018. Fellaini signed a four-year deal with the option of a further year when he joined from Everton for £27.5m in 2013. United boss Jose Mourinho has activated the option despite uncertainty over the 29-year-old midfielder’s future. Fellaini was booed by his own fans last month but scored in the EFL Cup semi-final win against Hull on Tuesday. The Belgium…

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on Wednesday urged Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to partner with governors in the south west to ensure food security as well as halt produce that get wasted before arriving the market. Speaking during his visit to Ambode, the Ooni commended the governor on the partnership that brought about the Lake Rice, maintaining that there is need for more collaboration in the area of agriculture, especially cash crops. The monarch is of the belief that with more of such partnerships, the issue of food security would be taken to another…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a Zero Hunger Strategic Initiative to end hunger and poverty in Nigeria by the year 2030. The four states of Ebonyi, Benue, Ogun and Sokoto would kick-start the five-year pilot programme aimed at exploiting the agriculture potential of the country. Obasanjo, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum, at the launch of the Strategic Review Report, said the country has begun a new journey that would redefine the destiny of hundreds of millions of people in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. The ex-president explained that the actions recommended in…

Dr Agnes CALLAMARD, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, has confirmed that she is probing “recent allegations of killings of over 800 citizens mostly women, children and the elderly in Southern Kaduna by suspected herdsmen, and to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, and to provide reparations to victims.” This followed a petition dated 30 December 2016 and sent by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The development on Dr CALLAMARD’s investigation of the killings was disclosed today by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni. In the communication sent to SERAP today Dr CALLAMARD said: “Many thanks…

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has adjourned the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki to Jan. 17, to enable the prosecution to present more witnesses. Chairman of the tribunal, Danladi Umar, adjourned the matter following request for more time by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs. Umar said the tribunal was doing all it can to work by the provisions of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), on the matter. “We are bound by the ACJA; we are trying to be lenient with all the parties. This matter is hereby adjourned to Jan. 17 for continuation of hearing, Jacobs had…