Author: Chronicle Editor

Russia has declared 35 American diplomats persona non grata, in a response to President Barack Obama’s expulsion of Russian diplomats for ‘malicious’ meddling in US election via cyber hacking. The TASS news agency said the American diplomats expelled include 31 personnel of the embassy in Moscow and four of the consulate general in St. Petersburg. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, made the declaration on Friday, TASS reported. “We, of course, cannot leave unanswered the insults of the kind, reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and foreign relations,” Lavrov said. “Thus, the Russian Foreign Ministry and officials of other authorities have…

On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting, which was termed private, took place at the President’s office. It started around 12:00noon.

At least 15 Boko Haram fighters were killed in Borno on Friday as Nigerian troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Boko Haram terrorists engaged in prolonged fierce battle in Borno State. Military insiders told PREMIUM TIMES the battle ensued at 6 a.m this morning and did not end until after 9 a.m. Our sources said the battle began when fighters of the terror group launched a surprise attack on troops location in Rann, in northern Borno, shooting sporadically. Troops from 3 Battalion and 112 Task Force Battalion are stationed in the area, our sources said. The soldiers responded promptly, killing…

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) impounded 255 vehicles across Lagos State during the Christmas holiday. Mr Hyginus Umeje, the Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, also told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that they were impounded during the operation `Zero Tolerance’ patrol. Umeje said that the drivers arrested then were no fewer than 1,172 that committed no less than 1,270 offences.“We started the operation `zero tolerance’ patrol on Dec. 19 along designated routes and highways. “We impounded no less than 255 vehicles under various offences during the Christmas time and about 1,172 people were also arrested…

The US President-elect Donald Trump has said he will meet with intelligence leaders next week to get the “facts of the situation” that led the Obama administration to expel 35 Russian diplomats in the wake of cyber attacks related to the US election. The statement from Mr Trump urged America to “move on to bigger and better things” but confirmed he would meet security officials “in the interest of our country and its great people”. “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I…

An unidentified 80-year-old woman has been labelled a witch after she climbed an electricity pole but was not electrocuted. The woman, from Nigeria, reportedly climbed up the pole in a suicide bid, MailOnline reports. She threw herself on to the cables but was not electrocuted, prompting some onlookers to accuse the pensioner of witchcraft. By the time she climbed down, a mob of people had gathered to see the woman. One rumour that reportedly circulated was that the woman had become entangled in the cables while flying home from a coven meeting. Images of the scene went viral in Nigeria.…

On Thursday, the Abia House of Assembly elected a new Speaker, Mr Kennedy Njoku, representing Osisioma-Ngwa North Constituency. Njoku’s election followed the removal of a former Speaker Chief Martins Azubuike, representing Isialangwa North Constituency. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe, who presided over the plenary, said that 20 out of 24 members signed the impeachment notice against Azubuike. During the election conducted by the Clerk of the House, Mr John-Pedro Irokansi, Njoku, polled 17 votes to defeat Chief Chikwendu Kalu, representing Isialangwa South Constituency, who polled three votes. The Deputy Leader of the House, Chief Solomon Akpulonu,…

Lab tests on a consignment of rice seized by Nigerian customs officials show that the product is “contaminated” but not plastic, the National Agency For Food and Drugs (NAFDAC) says. The rice contained bacteria “above permissible limits”, a senior NAFDAC official said. Customs officials’ claims that the rice seized in Lagos last week was “plastic” sparked confusion and official denials. The health minister intervened, saying there was “no evidence” for the claims. Tests on samples of the rice showed that it was “unwholesome for human consumption”, exceeding the maximum limit for bacteria including “Coli form”, NAFDAC said in a statement.…

Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed that he has a high taste for local food and attire. Onyeama, with a Master of Law from Cambridge University, appreciates the traditional attire and loves to wear them. The Minister, who also holds Political Science Degree from Columbia University New York, however said though he had passion for Nigerian fashion but never liked putting on cap or hat to match. “Cloth-wise I love traditional attire; I always love them even before now. “The only thing I don’t put on, and a lot of people have remarked; they always say I don’t put…

Nigerian Navy has intensified clampdown on illegal crude oil thieves, illegal refineries and other maritime crimes in Niger Delta. The Navy said that more illegal refineries have been raided between December 19 and December 24. With the period, 23 illegal refinery sites were raided mainly in Obodo, Ajosolo, Isaba and Olakpashe creeks in Warri South West Local Government of Delta State. Rear Admiral Christian Ezekobe, Director of Naval Information, said in a statement on Friday that about 396 Metric-Tons (MT) of suspected illegally refined AGO and about 1,060MT of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed. He said that three suspects…