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Author: Vincent Osuwo
The Super Eagles have dropped from 36th to 44th in the current FIFA rankings, the largest decline among other countries in November. Nigeria’s eight-place slide in the newest rankings, which were revealed on the football governing body’s website on Thursday, represents the three-time African champions’ steepest decline in recent years. The Super Eagles’ slide was partly owing to a bad performance in the previous international window, when they were humiliated 2-1 at home to Rwanda in the final phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Austin Eguavoen’s men were defeated by the Amavubi in Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium,…
The House of Representatives on Thursday confirmed Lit-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff, COAS. This comes after his screening on Wednesday by the Joint Committees on Defence and Army. Babajimi Benson, the committee’s chairman, submitted the report during plenary and urged the House to confirm Oluyede, a prayer granted at the session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu. In a summary of the findings, Benson, who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, stated, “I do rise to urge the House to consider the report of the ad hoc committee on the screening…
Kelly Okungbowa, the coordinator of the Edo State Public Response Safety Team, revealed on Thursday that a mobile court will soon be established to try traffic offenders in the state. He noted that if found guilty, offenders will first face community service, as Governor Monday Okpehbolo has commanded that no one be sent to prison at this time. Okungbowa stated this after the governor established the safety team, which attempts to address regular traffic jams, notably in and around King Square, Benin City, and other congested intersections. Okpebholo approves free rides for Edo residents Indiscriminate parking, passenger pickup and drop-off,…
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday began a two-day visit to France, with both countries seeking increased economic cooperation and Paris looking to boost ties in English-speaking Africa following a series of setbacks with former allies on the continent. French President Emmanuel Macron met his counterpart at the historic Invalides Memorial Complex, with the first official state visit by a Nigerian leader in more than two decades. The two national anthems sang out in the courtyard of one of Paris’ landmarks, kicking off a visit focused on encouraging economic partnerships between France and Africa’s most populous country. Macron has sought a…
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede.jpg "Odiong, US-based Nigerian priest gets $5.5m bail in sexual assault charges")
US-based Nigerian Catholic priest, Fr. Anthony Odiong, who is facing criminal charges for allegedly abusing his position of authority within the church to pursue sex with vulnerable women, has been granted a $5.5 million bail. Odiong was granted bail at a bail hearing on Tuesday in Waco, Texas, United States. Odiong requested a reduction in the $5.5 million bail on which he is being held in custody, but a judge denied the request after prosecutors established that Odiong had communicated plans to flee to his native Nigeria if he was released. Odiong, 55, is charged with five counts of sexual…
Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a Roman Catholic priest with links to Texas and Louisiana who is facing criminal charges for allegedly abusing his position of authority within the church to pursue sex with vulnerable women, fathered at least two children with them, authorities have alleged. The stunning information about Odiong surfaced at a bail hearing on Tuesday in Waco, Texas, where prosecutors have charged him with several counts of sexually assaulting women to whom he ministered. Authorities are concerned about Odiong’s biological fatherhood because Catholic clergymen are not permitted to engage in sexual behaviour. They see the children as proof…
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has shut down multiple venues, including churches, hotels, bars, and other enterprises, for failing to follow the state’s environmental regulations. The operation, which included Mushin, Amuwo Odofin, and Okota Isolo, was part of a larger campaign to combat noise pollution and other environmental breaches around Lagos. This was confirmed in a message posted on LASEPA’s verified X handle on Thursday. According to LASEPA, the establishments were closed for failing to comply with environmental regulations, despite the agency’s prior notices. The statement said, “In a decisive move to combat noise pollution and other environmental violations,…
The police Special Investigations Team attached to the Force Criminal Investigations Department Annex in Lagos State has arrested Chinedu Ngwaka for his involvement in a N320 million fraud scam. Ngwaka, a self-proclaimed Bureau De Change operator, was also accused of using a phoney Presidency number plate on his Toyota Hilux and a forged identity card provided by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. This was stated in a statement issued on Wednesday by Mayegun Aminat, Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos State, using her X handle, #mayegunAmina. Police inform residents of security drill around Abuja train station The statement…
The Nigeria Police Force has notified inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory that a crisis response simulation exercise will take place on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The drill, conducted in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser, will take place around Idu Train Station from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. According to a statement issued on Thursday by Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the exercise is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve security forces’ preparation in dealing with security challenges across the country. Police IG unveils quick response app for Ogun schools “In furtherance of…
The Russian Army on Thursday launched massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector, forcing emergency power failure as temperatures dropped across the country. Ukraine’s energy grid has been heavily targeted since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of “terror” tactics by attempting to plunge Ukrainian cities into darkness and cut off heating to civilians throughout the winter. The overnight strikes come after two weeks of dramatic escalation, during which both sides launched new weapons to gain the upper hand ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump in January 2025. The Air Force reported a slew of…