Author: Chronicle Editor

China has ordered the closure of the US consulate in the south-western city of Chengdu, the latest in a tit-for-tat escalation between the two countries. China said the move was a “necessary response” to the US, who ordered China to close its consulate in Houston earlier this week. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US decision was taken because China was “stealing” intellectual property. Tensions have been rising between the US and China over several key issues. President Donald Trump’s administration has clashed repeatedly with Beijing over trade and the coronavirus pandemic, as well as China’s imposition of a controversial…

A United States court has dismissed the case against Olalekan Ponle popularly known as Woodberry, a Nigerian accused of multi-million dollar wire fraud and Business Email Compromise (BEC). Woodberry, 29, was arrested alongside Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) in the United Arab Emirate on June 10 for multiple fraud charges after a raid by operatives of the Dubai crime unit. The duo along with five others were extradited to the US on July 2. According to the complaint against Woodberry, an unnamed Chicago company was tricked into sending wire transfers totalling $15.2 million. Companies based in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, New York and…

The Senate on Thursday adjourned plenary till September 15 to enable members proceed on annual summer vacation. Senate President Ahmad Lawan made this known after an extended sitting of the Upper Chamber in Abuja. Lawan however said the break notwithstanding, the various committees of the Senate would be working and available “to attend to urgent matters that require their attention”. Sack NDDC IMC now, Senate tells Buhari He directed the Senate Committee on Finance to engage with the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planing, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, to prepare the 2021 appropriation Bill. He said the Senate hopes the…

President Donald Trump has cancelled the pre-election Republican party convention in Florida, blaming the coronavirus “flare-up”. “It’s not the right time for that,” he said, adding that he would still give a convention speech in a different form. It comes as the number of cases of Covid-19 in the US passed four million. Part of the convention will go ahead in North Carolina, where Mr Trump will be formally nominated as the Republican presidential candidate. The event, shortened to half a day, will be held on 24 August in the city of Charlotte, the original venue for the convention. Mr…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday presented additional two prosecution witnesses in the trial of Emmanuela Eteta Ita and Surestart School Ltd, before Justice F.O.G. Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The EFCC is prosecuting Ita, former Head of Stakeholders Unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and Surestart School Ltd, on 25-count charge of corruption, fraud and criminal misappropriation of funds to the tune of N145,819,000 (One Hundred and Forty-five Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand Naira), an offence contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 15(2) and (3) of the Money Laundering…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced 604 confirmed new coronavirus cases in the country on Thursday. The 604 cases announced by the Centre for Disease Control takes the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 38948. The NCDC also announced the discharge of 246 patients from isolation centers across the country with 20 new deaths reported. Lagos state, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria topped the number of confirmed cases with 203 new cases taking the total number of confirmed cases in Lagos alone to 13806. Nigeria announces 543 new coronavirus cases Oyo state recorded 87…

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says as the Federal Government kick starts the implementation of the National Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), a move from the international community to support the successful execution of programmes encapsulated in the plan is welcomed and appreciated. The Vice President stated this at a virtual meeting held earlier today with representatives of the international community from the United States (US), the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), agencies of the United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, a member of the Economic Sustainability Committee…

The ongoing edition of hit reality television show, Big Brother Naija (BBN), which kicked off on Sunday, will bring an estimated N2 billion into the Nigerian economy, financial sector sources have disclosed. MultiChoice, producers of the show, explained sources, have had to ensure that the show, holding in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, is held under much stricter measures in conformity with the public health and safety protocols. According to financial sector sources, MultiChoice’s investments in the show have risen to N2 billion because of capital intensive projects necessary for the successful hosting of the show. These include the…

The Federal Government has launched the Agriculture for Food and Job Plan, AFJP, the agriculture component of the Nigeria Economic and Sustainability Plan (NESP) targeting smallholder farmers. The project would mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy and livelihoods of farmers by creating more access to food for and the rapid emergence of a competitive food production, processing and distribution in Nigeria. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammad Nanono stated this during the official launch of the Agriculture for Food and Job Plan (AFJP) in Funtua, Katsina state on Thursday. Alhaji Nanono informed that President Muhammadu…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal office on Wednesday secured the conviction of five internet fraudsters namely, Benjamin Chukwuma Anyaegbusi (A.K.A Wilma Clark); Obi Odinaka (A.K.A Michael Groote); Shamgar Ifejindu ( A.K.A Karen Erika) Meze Michael (A.K.A Lea Felicitas) and Franklin Ibeh (A.K.A Amelia Shoes) before Justice I. Buba of the Federal High court, sitting in Enugu, Enugu state on one count charge each bordering on internet fraud. The convicts, who were arrested in Awka , Anambra State, were arraigned on July 21. 2020 wherein they all pleaded guilty as charged by the EFCC. Justice Buba after…