Author: Chronicle Editor

Wilfried Zaha scored and then missed with a penalty as Crystal Palace held Norwich to keep the Canaries in the relegation zone. Norwich led through the quickest Premier League goal of the season when Teemu Pukki fired in after 38 seconds from Adam Idah’s lay-off. The Canaries had the better chances early on but Palace improved and Jean-Philippe Mateta had a goal disallowed. Zaha curled a beautiful effort in from the edge of the box but was guilty of one of the worst Premier League penalties ever. He seemed to stumble as he stepped up and scuffed his kick several…

Che Adams scored a late winner as Southampton produced a superb comeback to beat Tottenham 3-2 and damage the hosts’ bid for a Champions League spot. Two goals in three minutes won the game for Saints, with Mohamed Elyounoussi and then Adams heading beyond Hugo Lloris in almost identical fashion. Southampton defender Jan Bednarek had earlier turned into his own net to open the scoring when under pressure from Son Heung-min from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s cut-back. But Armando Broja levelled soon after in what was a dominant first-half performance from the visitors in which Romain Perraud also struck the crossbar. The…

Manchester City moved 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League after cruising to victory over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium. Riyad Mahrez put them ahead in the first half with a penalty after Raheem Sterling was fouled. Kevin de Bruyne secured victory after capitalising on a 69th-minute error from Bees keeper David Raya. Brentford are now just six points above the relegation zone after a sixth straight defeat in all competitions.

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has adjourned the trial of one Chris Ihebuzo for offences bordering on stealing, demanding property by written threat, attempt to commit a felony, unauthorised access to computer material, unauthorised modification of computer material, and unauthorised access with intent to commit and facilitate commission of further offences, till February 18, 2022. Ihebuzo, known as the “Access Bank hacker”, following his viral video in which he bragged of gaining access into the bank’s database and extracting data of over 2,000 customers, including their Bank Verification Numbers, BVNs, was arrested by…

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arraigned Yakubu Musa before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna for criminal misappropriation. The defendant allegedly collected the sum of N3 million from one Mr. Thalmon Friday sometime in 2014, for a plot of land at Mahuta area in Kaduna State but diverted the fund as the complainant who happens to be his in-law neither got the said land nor a refund. The one count amended charge reads: “That you, Yakubu Musa sometime in 2014 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this…

Animal charity the RSPCA has taken West Ham defender Kurt Zouma’s pet cats away after videos emerged on social media of him kicking and slapping one of them. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is liaising with Essex Police about the incident. “The two cats are now in RSPCA care,” said a charity spokesperson. The Premier League club say they have fined Zouma “the maximum amount possible” and the fee will be donated to animal welfare charities. West Ham said Zouma “willingly complied with the steps taken in the initial stage of the process, including delivering…

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has appointed the former Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, as the chairman of the Committee on Procurement one day after officially dumping Peoples Democratic Party for All Progressives Congress. Bwacha’s appointment was announced on the floor at the start of plenary on Wednesday by the Senate President. The national chairman of the PDP, Iyorcha Ayu, in a letter to the Senate on Tuesday, nominated Senator Shuaibu Isa Lau as the new Deputy Minority Leader to replace Bwacha. The Senate President, on Wednesday, also announced Lau’s appointment as the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Works…

The Senate, on Wednesday, confirmed the nominations of Nnamonso Ekanem and Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji as members of the Federal Judicial Service Commission. The nominees who are from Akwa Ibom and Niger States are to represent the South-South and North-Central zone on the Commission, respectively. The confirmation of both nominees followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in his presentation, said their nominations were made by President Muhammadu Buhari pursuant to Section 154, subsections (1) and (3) in conformity with Paragraph 12 (e) of the…

England captain Harry Kane is ‘more than happy’ with Tottenham boss Antonio Conte and, while Spurs want the 28-year-old striker to stay at the club, he has not made a decision about his future. (Fabrizio Romano, via Express) Liverpool and Senegal forward Sadio Mane, 29, would be willing to leave the club this summer if Real Madrid or Barcelona come in for him. (Goal, in Spanish) Roma are expected to make a new attempt to sign Arsenal and Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, 29, this summer. (football.london) Manchester United have targeted £40m-rated Leicester City and Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, 24. (Star)…

The corruption trial of a former Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang before Justice Christy Dabup of Plateau State High Court, Jos resumed Tuesday with the prosecution presenting two more witnesses: Boyi Kakai Sanka (PW6), and Mary Anthony Bawa (PW7). The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Jang alongside Yusuf Pam, a former cashier in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG), for alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of Plateau State funds to the tune of N6.32 billion. Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Sanka, a former Accountant General of…