Author: Chronicle Editor

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday was spotted wearing a face mask for the first time as he arrived Mali on a peace mission. Buhari has defied critics by not wearing a face mask since the coronavirus pandemic slipped into Nigeria in February. The Nigerian President and some Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders led by the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the sub-regional organisation, President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic, agreed to meet in Mali to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in the country. The…

The Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has denied accusing members of the National Assembly of collecting 60 percent of the contracts at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Akpabio, in a letter read on the floor of the House during Plenary by the Speaker on Thursday said the only reference he made to 60 percent during his presentation before the NDDC committee on Monday was in response to a question by a member of the committee. He said the member had sought to know whether a medical director can serve as an Executive Director Project, to which…

The House of Representatives has said it would sue the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio for perjury and defamation after he failed to publish the names of members of the National Assembly who allegedly benefited from the lucrative contracts of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila announced this in a special address he made at the plenary on Thursday. Speaker Gbajabiamila had on Tuesday given Akpabio 48 hours to publish the names or face the wrath of the House. Akpabio had at a public investigative hearing of the House Committee on Niger Delta on…

The United Nations said it was utterly shocked and horrified by the gruesome killing of five aid workers by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state. UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon expressed the reaction of the global body in a statement Wednesday night. He condemned the killing of the aid workers, who were committed humanitarians who devoted their lives to helping vulnerable people and communities in an area heavily affected by violence. “Our colleagues and partners were abducted while travelling on a main route connecting the northern town of Monguno with Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. “Their safety…

The Senate on Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged financial recklessness. The Senate also recommended that the NDDC should be returned to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for proper supervision. The agency which was formerly supervised by the SGF is now being oversighted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, following recent directives by the presidency. The upper chamber also called on the current IMC to refund the N4.923 billion…

Lawyers gathered in front of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) building on Tigris Crescent, Abuja to protest against the leadership of Alhaji Garba Abubakar which they described as dictatorial. According to the lawyers, Abubakar who is the Registrar General and Chief Executive Officer of the CAC is frustrating President Muhammadu Buhari’s Ease of Doing Business reforms. The lawyers were lamenting the treatment and introduction of manual processes which have taken the management of the CAC back to the 80s. #Nigerian lawyers in #Abuja have called on the Registrar General and CEO of @cacnigeria1, Garba Abubakar to resign. They claim he…

Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been appointed as manager of La Liga side Villarreal on the three-year deal. The 48-year-old Spaniard succeeds Javi Calleja, who left the club despite a fifth-placed finish that secured a Europa League spot. Emery has been out of work since being sacked by Premier League Arsenal in November after 18 months in charge. Willian close to agreeing deal to join Arsenal He has managed Sevilla and Valencia in the Spanish top flight, as well as Paris St-Germain in France. Emery took over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in May 2018 after winning three successive Europa Leagues…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the final forfeiture of five houses and a total sum of N46, 060, 373.84 (Forty Six Million, Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Naira, Eighty Four kobo only), belonging to Hima Aboubakar and Societe D’ Equipment International Nigeria Limited, to the Federal Government. The assets are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The final forfeiture order was granted by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice A.I Chikere. Aboubakar, a businessman and his firm, Societe D’ Equipment International Nigeria Limited, were dragged before…

The trial of former Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of Federal High Court, Abuja was on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, adjourned till October 14, 2020 for ruling on the admissibility of the testimony, which he gave as prosecution witness in a 2017 trial. The testimony, presently identified as ‘Exhibit J,’ was given by Yakubu before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of Federal High Court, Abuja in January 2017 where he stood as prosecution witness in a case where some NNPC officials and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd stood trial for…

Arsenal are set to offer Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a new contract worth about £250,000 a week plus bonuses as they try to convince the 31-year-old to stay. (Telegraph – subscription required) Newcastle are planning to approach Real Madrid with a loan offer for 22-year-old Serbia forward Luka Jovic, with the club’s scouts working under the assumption that the proposed Saudi Arabi-backed takeover will not happen. (Shields Gazette) Alternatively, the Magpies will attempt to sign English forward Callum Wilson, 28, from Bournemouth if the Cherries are relegated. (Express) Borussia Dortmund have looked at Werder Bremen’s Kosovo winger Milot Rashica, 24, as a potential replacement for 20-year-old England forward Jadon Sancho, who has been linked…