Author: Chronicle Editor

The ninth prosecution witness (PW9), Rouqayyah Ibrahim, a detective with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday December 8, continued her testimony before Justice Okong Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, revealing how former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, received diverted funds in dollars even while he was a fugitive in Dubai, and operated companies with N3 billion net worth that engaged in nothing. “We discovered that some of the funds, of which over 90 per cent were cash payment and deposits into the accounts were withdrawn in cash and laundered by the…

The reason why President Muhammadu Buhari unceremoniously fired Dr. Nasiru Mohammed Ladan Argungu as Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have been revealed. Sources close to the agency said Argungu was fired because of his insubordination to the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN). Argungu allegedly undermined his supervising Minister, Mr. Keyamo by delaying the take-off and payment to beneficiaries of the 774,000 Special Public Works Programme jobs. In a terse statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson to President Buhari said Argungu has been fired but they not explain why. Let peace, greater unity continue,…

*Police to checkmate vehicles plying BRT lanes, Okada operation Motorists driving against the traffic in Lagos will now face stringent penalty, as Lagos State Government, on Monday, launched a special security team to checkmate one-way driving and other traffic offences. The new operation, codenamed “Anti-Oneway and Other Traffic Offenders Squad”, was raised by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, at the instance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the specific mandate to arrest and impound vehicles plying one-way, BRT lanes and also motorcyclists operating in restricted areas. The outfit, being led by the Commander of policemen in Governor’s Monitoring Team…

A much-changed Chelsea side were left frustrated in front of their own supporters as Krasnodar earned a 1-1 draw in the Champions League dead rubber at Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard’s side had already been assured of top spot in Group E but former Newcastle midfielder Remy Cabella gave the Russian Premier League side the lead after 24 minutes. Chelsea responded immediately when Jorginho converted from the spot following a foul on Tammy Abraham (28) but the hosts were unable to make their territorial dominance count during a tepid second period. RB Leipzig Knock man United Out Of Champions League With…

The Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir was abandoned after both teams walked off the pitch following an alleged racist slur by the fourth official. Play was initially suspended for over an hour after a row initiated in the 14th minute when Pierre Webo, Basaksehir’s assistant coach, was sent off. Video footage emerged which appeared to show Webo, a former Cameroon international, accusing Romanian fourth official Sebastian Coltescu of using racist language. Liverpool Thrash Wolves As Fans Return To Anfield Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba could be seen protesting on the touchline, while PSG players including Neymar and…

Manchester United’s season suffered a huge blow as a defeat at German side RB Leipzig knocked them out of the Champions League. Needing just a draw to progress to the last 16, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side conceded twice inside 13 minutes to leave their hopes in tatters before RB Leipzig added what ultimately turned out to be the killer third with 20 minutes left. United staged their now customary second-half fightback thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty and Harry Maguire header, but ultimately fell short. Japan To Host FIFA Club World Cup To rub salt in the wound, the goalscorer…

…Considers bill to boost infrastructural development in rural areas The Senate has began the process of amending the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act which was last amended 28 years ago, with the introduction of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Bill 2020, presently before the Upper Chamber. The piece of legislation which scaled second reading on the floor during plenary on Tuesday seeks to review the legal framework for the regulation of Medicine and Dentistry in Nigeria. Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC – Kwara Central), while leading debate on the bill, recalled that the Medical and Dental…

The claims that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC investigators pressured former bankers, standing trial for allegedly defrauding the Central Bank of Nigeria in the mutilated currency scam, for a bribe of N96 million for their release on bail, is untrue. Three former bankers, Ayodele Adeyemi, Ishaq Akano and Ajiwe Adegoke had in separate affidavit deposed to at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State and published in an online platform, alleged that one Hammadama Bello, an operative of the EFCC asked them to raise N96 million to be set free. The trio who are among ex-bankers, indicted in a mutilated…

The Makurdi Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, arraigned one Patience Simon Robert before Justice Simon O. Aboki of the Nasarawa State High Court, Lafia for alleged impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences. Robert ran into trouble following a petition from a victim who alleged that she collected N1.5million from him under the pretext of helping his children secure a job in the EFCC. Investigations show that the defendant who was arrested while posing as an EFCC officer is deep into the business of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public…

Nigeria’s Defence Intelligence Agency has acquired equipment that it can use to spy on its citizens’ calls and text messages, according to a report by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, which researches digital surveillance, security, privacy and accountability. The report, titled Running in Circles: Uncovering the Clients of Cyber-espionage Firm Circles, said a telecom surveillance company by the name of Circles has been helping state security apparatuses across 25 countries, including Nigeria, to spy on the communications of opposition figures, journalists, and protesters. The Citizen Lab report also said Circles was affiliated with Tel Aviv-based NSO Group, an Israeli…