Author: Chronicle Editor

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim K. Idris, has set up a team of detectives to investigate 70 electoral infractions in the Rivers state rerun. The action of the police is in response to the statement credited to the INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmud, to the effect that there were seventy incidents that tended to derail the 10th December, 2016 re-run elections. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Don Awunah, said that the experts would conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents to unravel those who directly or indirectly are responsible for such incidences and bring…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned Mr Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders over alleged “intimidation, harassment and unfair treatment of Mr Ibrahim Magu, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria apparently working with other agencies of government to use a purported security report the Senate knew or ought to know is baseless and politically motivated to reject Mr Magu’s confirmation as substantive chairman of the EFCC.” SERAP said that “by relying on a report they knew or ought to…

The preliminary report of the Senator Shehu Sani led Senate Adhoc Committee on Humanitarian Crises in the North East and the report of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) opposing the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lends the long held view in many quarters that the anti-corruption drive of the current administration is directed at persecuting real and perceived political enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. In its report, the Senate Adhoc Committee accused the Secretary General of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal, of some corrupt acts like illegal award…

The Kogi state government has completed its personnel verification and has fixed Dec. 20 as deadline for payment of all outstanding salaries. The government has also set up an appeal panel to look into cases of staff, who may have any grudge against the decisions of the verification committee. The government has also assured members of staff affected by the exercise that they would be resettled adequately to be self-employed. A statement released by Mr. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Director General, Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State, said that the state had been paying a humongous heap of…

Among the cogent decisions that were reached at the 50th session of ECOWAS was the upholding of the result of 1st December 2016 election in the Gambia. The session also resolved to guarantee the safety and protection of the President-elect Mr. Adama Barrow. The decisions were contained in a communiqué released on Saturday at the end of the 50th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Abuja. It was also stated that all the Head of States would attend the inauguration of the Barrow, who they vowed should be sworn in on 19th…

The Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has absolutely condemned the invitation and questioning of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Elujoba by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. This was contained in a release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, which stated that the University Senate position and resolution frowns on the allegation of alleged enrichment of himself with N7 million furniture allowance and the payment of some allowances to the Workers in the University. According to Olarewaju: “The Senate, Obafemi Awolowo University met today, Friday,16th December, 2016 to review and discuss the…

The national assembly of Mali has waved off charges of high treason against former President Amadou Toumani Toure in a decision that should allow him to return from exile in Senegal. This decision was made through massive voting in the national assembly. The move late on Friday was expected given that President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita often praises Toure. It advances the rehabilitation of a former leader widely seen as having helped to establish democracy in the West African country. “I confirm the abandonment of the charges against him was adopted by the majority of deputies,” said Mamadou Diarrassouba of the…

On Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari marked his 74th birthday anniversary with a special birthday parade and inspection of the Guard of Honour mounted by the Nigerian Army. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, which took place at the fore-court of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, witnessed the Inspection of Guard by the president. The Guard Brigade, headed by the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Musa Yusuf, also performed a Special Birthday Silent Drills, accompanied with special military birthday song in honour of the president. President Buhari also cut a birthday cake and released 74 pigeons from a cage…

On Friday, the Speaker of the House of Repres-entatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is on a divine mission to rescue the Nigeria from the brink of collapse and hopelessness. This was contained in his congratulations message to the President on his 74th birthday anniversary, where the Speaker said Buhari came back to lead Nigeria at a time when the nation was in dire need of purposeful, credible and dynamic leadership. Dogara maintained affirmed that the road has been rough and turbulent, but the journey to greatness and affluence has commenced with the APC government…

On Friday, the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Borno experienced a complete breakdown of order and discipline as soldiers attached to the brigade to fight Boko Haram in the North East went on the rampage over unpaid allowances running into hundreds of thousands of naira, and bad treatment by their commanders. It was learnt that the troops turned against their officers and started firing gunshots in all directions threatening to kill any officer who dared them. Military Sources confirmed that troops of 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army who have been in the fore-front of the assault on the…