Author: Chronicle Editor

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the 40th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House. Physically present were key members of the council; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Federal Ministers including Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Justice, Abubakar Malami, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello; Aviation- Hadi Sirika, and Power, Sale Mamman. The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, and other Ministers participated in the weekly cabinet meeting from their…

A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole has formalised his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as he registered in Ogun State. Bankole accompanied by a crowd of supporters registered at his ward 10 Iporo Sodeke, in Abeokuta, Abeokuta South Local Government of Ogun State. The former Speaker who was led by the representatives of the national and state officials of APC, Bankole, participated in the ongoing membership registration and validation exercise of the party at his ward in the state capital. Bankole told his supporters and party officials that the registration marks his official defection…

South Africa sacked coach Molefi Ntseki on Wednesday, three days after losing in Sudan and failing to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The decision was announced at a press conference in Soweto by South African Football Association chief executive Teboho Motlanthe. South Africa finished third in Group C behind Ghana and Sudan to continue a poor record in the competition. Since 2008, Bafana Bafana (The Boys) have played in six Cup of Nations qualifying competitions and reached the finals only twice. Ntseki was a controversial appointment to succeed England-born Stuart Baxter, who resigned in 2019 soon after…

The United State Department of Justice’s report on the alleged shooting that took place on October 20, 2020 at Lekki toll gate in Lagos State explains that there is “no accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting”. In its report titled, ‘Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2020’, the US said conflicting reports from Lekki toll gate has made it impossible to have accurate information on the incident. According to the DOJ, two persons were killed in connection to the protests that took place in Lagos with one of the killing purportedly happening in Lekki but not necessarily…

At least fifteen people were killed on Monday evening when suspected herdsmen attacked four villages in Ebonyi State. The attack took place in Umuhuali, Nkalaha, Obeagu, Nkalagu, and Amazu in Ishielu Local Government Area of the southeast state, further raising concerns about the country’s security. Eyewitnesses say the gunmen were shooting sporadically, killing the victims in different areas of the communities. They equally set ablaze motorcycles belonging to residents of the affected communities. According to them, the communities have been living peacefully with herders, saying the attack came to them by surprise. “There has not been a situation whereby we…

A military unit tried to seize the presidential palace in Niger’s capital Niamey overnight in an attempted coup but it was pushed back and order has been restored, the government said on Wednesday, days before a handover of power. “On the night of March 30-31, an attempted coup was thwarted,” it said in a statement, condemning “this cowardly and regressive act which sought to threaten democracy and the state of law”. The assailants, from a nearby air base, fled after the presidential guard met their attack with heavy shelling and gunfire, three security sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity because they…

The money laundering trial of a former governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, and two others: Tanko Beji and Umar Muhammad Nasko continued on Tuesday March 30, 2021 with the first prosecution witness, PW1, Muhammad Ndawuye Nmadu, telling the court that auditors could not trace the address of contractors that received about N1.7bn from the Niger State government in 2014. Nmadu, a retired auditor general of the state from 2007 to 2020, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdullah, told the Court that his responsibility as auditor general was to audit the books of account…

Operatives of the Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday March 26, 2021 arrested one Queen Jonathan, for suspected internet fraud in Oghara, Delta State. 24-year-old Jonathan is alleged to be involved in Bitcoin Scam. She presented herself as one Sophia Rodriguez, an expert in Bitcoin, on Instagram, to defraud unsuspecting victims. Abuja court jails Ogbelegba Abel for fraud Items recovered from her include an Infinix Hot 8 mobile phone. The suspect has made useful statement and will be arraigned in Court as soon as investigation is completed.

The Federal Government has made a shocking discovery of sponsors of Boko Haram and bandits, the Presidency said last night. It restated the claim that a link between kidnapping for ransom, banditry and Boko Haram sponsorship had been established. These sponsors include some bureau de change operators with contacts abroad, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, said. According to him, there is evidence that money is being sent from United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Boko Haram leaders. He confirmed that the statement by Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Dr. Kayode Fayemi that Boko Haram…

The Insight by Lateef Adewole On Sunday, I had a long and intense discussion with a senior brother and friend. Since the beginning of this year, we have not talked on phone, and for some months before then. That must have explained the length of that tête-à-tête. Our discussion dovetailed into the state of the nation and how things have turned in Nigeria. He expressed this concerns despite the fact that he lives in the United States of America. He pointedly asked me what I thought about the agitation by some Yoruba people for a Yoruba nation. I have been confronted…