Author: Vincent Osuwo

Former Liverpool and Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino has announced his ordination as an evangelical priest at the age of 32.  The Brazilian footballer revealed the news on his social media pages, indicating a huge change in his life. Firmino and his wife were ordained as pastors at their church, which they formed three years ago. The dedication ceremony was held on Sunday in his birthplace of Maceio. In a heartfelt message, Firmino disclosed that becoming a pastor was not an initial goal but a mission that emerged after his encounter with Christ. “Since our encounter with Christ, a longing burns…

A young Tanzanian portrait artist who was convicted of cybercrime last week has been released from prison after social media users paid almost $2,000 (£1,600) to cover his fine.  The artist, Shadrack Chaula was ordered by a judge to pay the fine or face two years in prison after admitting to making a video that went viral on social media in which he burned a portrait of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and insulted her. “Thank you very much, fellow Tanzanians, for coming to my rescue,” Mr. Chaula told journalists shortly after his release on Monday. The case aroused outrage in…

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has berated Nigerians over their silence amid the insecurity and economic hardship bedevilling the country. Amaechi, speaking at a recent function, lamented the rising spate of suicides in the country. He lamented that “instead of Nigerians finding solutions to their problems, they are committing suicide.” The former Rivers State governor also mentioned that he keeps praying for Nigerians to keep committing suicide over the hardship in the country. “I’m praying for you all to continue committing suicide so that, by the time I wake up one day, all of you must have died so…

No fewer than 100 traffic offenders were arrested last week by the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, FCT Command during the ongoing “Operation Green Light Enforcement” in the city centre. Muta’a Chorrie, FCT Sector Commander, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja. Chorrie remarked that most vehicles, particularly commercial drivers, have developed the practice of disregarding traffic lights. He cautioned that the FRSC would continue to discipline traffic offenders, regardless of status, in order to maintain road safety. He also addressed the issue of indiscriminate parking by business cars, stating that the…

At least 121 people were arrested following a police crackdown on suspected cultists planning to commemorate a cult programme known as the 7/7 Day Celebration in Benue and Plateau states.  The 7/7-Day Celebration is a cult-related ritual at which suspected members of the Aiye Confraternity often initiate new members and is frequently marred by violence and killings. Chronicle NG learned via separate statements from the Benue and Plateau Police commands that the individuals were apprehended in various locations throughout the states. The Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Adesina, paraded some of the suspects at the Plateau State Police Headquarters in Jos…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday opposed an application by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for the release of his passport to facilitate an overseas medical trip. Labi-Lawal, Emefiele’s defence counsel, filed an affidavit requesting the release of his passport so that he may fly to the United Kingdom for medical treatment, which the EFCC opposed. Monday’s affidavit by the defence and counter-affidavit by the prosecution were in addition to those filed earlier on the topic on June 25, 2024, by both teams. According to a statement issued on Monday by the…

The Federal High Court has denied the motion to relocate the N80.2 billion fraud trial of ex-Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello from Abuja to Kogi State.  In a letter dated July 2 and signed by his Special Assistant, Joshua Aji, the Chief Justice, Justice John Tsoho, agreed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Bello should be tried in Abuja rather than Kogi State. Justice Tsoho denied Bello’s June 10 appeal to shift his trial for alleged N80.2 billion fraud to Kogi. On June 27, Bello’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), informed the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, that…

The Plateau State Police Command apprehended a woman named Peace John for reportedly running a sex trafficking ring from Nigeria to Ghana. Olugbemi Adesina, the state commissioner of police, paraded the suspect at the command’s headquarters in Jos, the state capital, on Monday. During the procession, Adesina told journalists that the 20-year-old female suspect, who specialised in child trafficking, was apprehended at the Bukuru Low-Cost axis in Jos South Local Government Area of the state after receiving a tip. The commissioner said, “On June 14, 2024, at about 3 p.m., the Plateau State Police Command arrested one Peace John, female,…

Super Eagles striker Kayode Olarenwaju has petitioned a Federal Capital Territory High Court to end his marriage to his estranged wife, Ezinne, claiming that it has irretrievably broken down.  The European-based player, who is also seeking custody of their children, sought the court to order UK-based pastor Tobi Adegboyega to pay him ₦1 billion in damages for the emotional pain, financial loss, and loss of goodwill caused by his “adulterous affair” with Ezinne. Olarenwaju and Ezinne had been in a marital dispute over suspicions of adultery, among other things. The situation became more complicated when Ezinne filed a lawsuit against…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has stated that the union will not go on strike provided the Federal Government implements the agreements reached within the next two weeks.  Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday. ASUU had threatened to go on strike over the failure to implement agreements agreed with the federal government. On June 26, Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman invited the union to a conference to discuss the remaining concerns impacting universities and avert the planned walkout. Osodeke mentioned that none of the…