Author: Chronicle Editor

Police in Abuja on Wednesday paraded a 20-year old man, Abubakar Amodu, for allegedly conspiring with some others to kidnap his father for N2 million. Amodu was one of 25 suspects paraded by the force spokesman CP Frank Mba for various offences in Abuja. The suspect, who was arrested with other members of the gang, said he worked with his father on the farm rearing cattle. Bandits kill nine, kidnap 11 on Kaduna highway He said his father gave him 15 cows and he left home but soon got friendly with a kidnap gang, who told him that his father…

The Central African Republic on Thursday announced a 15-day emergency as armed groups tried to blockade the capital Bangui in a bid to topple newly re-elected President Faustin Archange Touadera. Rebels controlling about two thirds of the perennially volatile nation launched an offensive a week before presidential elections on December 27, trying to blockade Bangui and carrying out several attacks on key national highways. “The state of emergency has been proclaimed across the national territory for 15 days, starting from midnight (2300 GMT),” presidential spokesman Albert Yaloke Mokpeme said over national radio. Touadera was declared re-elected by the constitutional court on…

Facebook on Thursday said it is asking its independent experts to rule on whether former president Donald Trump’s suspension for “fomenting insurrection” should stand. Facebook and Instagram suspended Trump after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, an attack on the seat of democracy that led to Trump’s second impeachment. The leading social network is referring the decision to its independent oversight board known informally as the Facebook “supreme court” with the authority to make binding rulings even chief executive Mark Zuckerberg must abide by. “We believe our decision was necessary and right,” Facebook vice president of global…

A public health doctor in Texas has been charged with stealing a vial of Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement Thursday that Dr. Hasan Gokal is accused of theft by a public servant, a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Gokal is accused of taking a vial with nine doses on December 29, 2020. He was working at a vaccination site in Humble, north of Houston, Ogg said. Authorities contend the doctor “disregarded county protocols in place to ensure…

Liverpool’s 68-game unbeaten run in the Premier League at Anfield came to a stunning end as Ashley Barnes’s late penalty earned Burnley a 1-0 win on Thursday. Jurgen Klopp’s men have now failed to win in five consecutive league games to see their title defence collapse as they remain six points behind leaders Manchester United in fourth. Burnley began the game just one place above the relegation zone, but gave their chances of beating the drop a huge boost when Barnes was tripped by Alisson Becker seven minutes from time and then beat the Brazilian from the spot. Liverpool had…

The ministry of transportation has officially launched the e-ticketing platform of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), with assurances that government is determined to ensure Nigerians get the best travel experience on all its train service network. Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said the e-ticketing platform procured at about N900 million, is another milestone for the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the government. He said: “This project which is a Public-Private Partnership is a product of over three years of rigorous procurement process and due diligence involving the NRC, NITDA and finally obtaining approval from the Federal…

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), for additional five-year tenure. Also approved is the reconstitution of the Non-Executive Board of the NPA, with Mr Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye (from South-west zone) as Chairman. Other members of the Board are: Prince Ekenyem Nwafor-Orizu (South-east zone), Akinwunmi Ricketts (South-south zone), Ghazali Mohammed Mijinyawa (North-East zone), Mustapha Amin Dutse (North-West zone), and Abdulwahab Adesina (North-Central zone). The President has equally approved Board members for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), who will oversee the selection of a new Managing Director for…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office Thursday January 21, 2012 secured the conviction of one Hassan Shuaibu Musa before Justice Mohammed Tukur of the State High Court, Kaduna on one count criminal charge of forgery and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of eleven million naira (N11,000,000.00). Trouble began for Hassan when the Kaduna zonal office of the Commission received a petition by one Yahaya Mohammad Idris who alleged that sometime in August 2020 he bought a land for eleven million naira (N11, 000,000.00). But, when he went to develop the land someone claimed…

At least 32 people have been killed and 100 others injured in a twin suicide bombing in a busy commercial area in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, officials say. The bombers blew themselves up among a crowd of shoppers at a second-hand clothes market in Tayaran Square. The last deadly suicide attack in the city was in January 2018, when 35 people were killed in the same square. No group has said it carried out the latest attack, but suspicion will fall on the jihadist group Islamic State. The Iraqi government declared victory in its war against IS at the end of…

Arsenal have made an approach for Real Madrid and Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard, 22. (Sky Sports) However, Odegaard is said to be nearing a loan move to Sevilla. (Cuatro – in Spanish) Arsenal are to offer English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, 20, a new £40,000-a-week deal. (Mail) Tottenham, West Ham and Sheffield United are among numerous clubs keen on signing 28-year-old Manchester United and England midfielder Jesse Lingard on loan. (Talksport) Paris St-Germain are planning a surprise move for Manchester City and Spain centre-back Eric Garcia, 20. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish) Chelsea would prefer not to replace under-fire boss Frank Lampard with an interim manager mid-season.…