Petroleum products marketers have warned that retail outlets are shutting down operations due to increasing cost of running the business. Speaking during the National Executive Council meeting of the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria, NOGASA, in Abuja, the marketers faulted the process followed by President Bola Tinubu in the removal of subsidies on petrol, saying measures that ought to have been in place before the removal were not taken.   The marketers insisted that the nation’s refineries ought to have been operational and issues around foreign exchange resolved before the petrol subsidy was removed. The marketers questioned the Federal Government’s inability to end the illicit trading of dollars in the country. Speaking at the meeting, NOGASA President, Mr. Benneth Korie, warned that the downstream in the country was under serious pressure as stations were shutting down due to harsh operational conditions. He stated: “Depot owners are so terribly affected by the increasing cost of the crude and exchange rate to the extent that many depots are practically deserted as their owners are unable to secure bank loans to fund their business due to high interest rates. “Banks are not willing to guarantee funds release to stakeholders as a result of the difficulty, instability and galloping foreign exchange rate. Many depots are presently dried up or out of stock. “Worst hit are filling stations whose owners find it extremely difficult to secure funds to procure products for their retail outlets and both the independent and major marketers are so terribly affected that as at today, filling stations are shutting down in great numbers on a daily basis and dealers are going out of business with many more on the verge of bankruptcy because of their inability to secure funds to facilitate orders for their stations”.

  A 26-year-old Australian woman, Annie Knight, has reportedly lost her corporate job after her work discovered her secret OnlyFans account. According to DailyMail, she shared her experience on SBS’ Insight on Tuesday, saying she was shocked she was dismissed from a corporate role. Knight, who claims to be in the top 0.4 per cent of creators on OnlyFans, said she did have apprehensions when she first ventured into the platform but didn’t think she would lose her job. “Yes, that was definitely my number one concern when I first started my account. And the last thing I wanted to do was to get fired if someone found my OnlyFans,” she shared. Unfortunately for Knight, these fears materialised a few years down the line. “I had just started a new job. I was on day five, and I actually went home sick that day, and I received an email saying termination of contract,” she explained. The email contained screenshots from her OnlyFans account, along with three reasons for her dismissal. The reasons cited included allegations she falsely claimed having a side business, did not seek the company’s permission to run this side venture and shared ‘online pornographic images’ of herself with ‘crude language’. The company said they deemed it unacceptable. Asked if she contested this decision, Knight responded, ‘I did, only because by day five I hated the job so much that I wasn’t going to fight the ruling. But I was definitely very upset and very angry at the decision.’ The former marketing manager started her OnlyFans in September 2020, in a bid to save money to buy a house but had never expected it to become so lucrative so quickly. Within a month Annabelle made thousands, and continued to use it for the next 18 months as a side project to her full-time job, averaging $1,794-a-month. She now makes around $969 a day sharing saucy photos of herself online. “I am pleased to [have been fired] an extent, I’m a lot happier now and have a lot more freedom,’ Annabelle told Jam Press. “I’m earning a considerable amount more now than I was at the other job.’ Earlier this year, Annie appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show to discuss her X-rated antics, and boasted of sleeping with 300 men and women in the span of a single year. “I’m down to try anything,’ she said, confirming she does ‘pretty much everything’ on her OnlyFans account. Annie confessed to bedding five different people in one day, explaining she finds men on dating apps and also has a roster of ‘regulars’ she romps with. “I feel empowered afterwards,’ she said. ‘Sex makes me feel good. It’s meant to make you feel good.” The beauty went on to tell a story about sleeping with an incredibly well-endowed man ‘who was quite girthy’. Taking things even further, Annie boasted about having sex ‘under a restaurant table’ while out on a date. We’d finished dinner and were up to dessert,’ she said cheekily. She also said sometimes when she’s out in public she ‘can’t wait’ to have sex and will have to drag a lover to the bathroom to take care of things.

  Niger’s post-coup military rulers have demanded in a statement seen by AFP on Wednesday that the United Nations coordinator in the West African country leave Niger within 72 hours. The foreign ministry said in the statement dated Tuesday that the government had ordered Louise Aubin, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator, “to take all necessary measures to leave Niamey within 72 hours”. It pointed to “obstacles” which it said were presented by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “with a view to thwarting the full and complete participation of Niger” at last month’s UN General Assembly. The military regime has already criticised “the perfidious actions” of the UN chief, saying that they were “likely to undermine any effort to end the crisis in our country”. Bakary Yaou Sangare, who before the coup was Niger’s ambassador to the UN and is now its foreign minister, was the new leaders’ chosen representative for the gathering. But, according to a diplomatic source, there was also an application by the overthrown government to represent Niamey. Because of the competing credentials, the matter was deferred and no representative from Niger was added to the speakers’ list. The decision to expel the UN official comes as France is withdrawing its 1,400-strong contingent in Niger after being ordered out by the coup leaders. France’s ambassador to Niger was also given his marching orders after the coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, an ally of Paris. AFP

  The Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to tell Nigerians his true name and everything related to his educational career. The former governor of Anambra State said this on Tuesday in a press conference in Abuja and asked Tinubu to provide clear details about the schools he attended, whether he participated in the National Youth Service Corps, and if he changed his name at any point. Obi added that Tinubu needs to introduce himself to Nigerians and the world so as to further avoid doubts and international embarrassment. “Mr Tinubu should tell the nation his true name, the school he attended, where he served, and the certificate he obtained. He must do this task once and now,” Obi said. The call comes after a United States of America court ordered Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records at the request of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. Atiku had previously sought the release of Tinubu’s certificate, suspecting that the one submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission may not be authentic. According to Obi, the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s identity has worsened Nigeria’s image internationally, portraying every Nigerian as a fraudster, certificate forger, or identity thief. He stated that such unnecessary controversies could have been avoided, especially considering Tinubu’s position as a former governor and a presidential aspirant. “In my opinion, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu should have saved the nation and himself this protracted embarrassment and undue anxiety. Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu still holds the nation on the world obligation only he can discharge. “I therefore respectfully and humbly call on him to immediately perform a simple task once and for all. He should introduce himself to the nation he governs and to the world for the avoidance of further doubt. “He should let the world know his name, nationality, place of birth, parentage, primary and secondary schools attended with dates, as well as the actual universities attended and certificates obtained. He should indicate clearly where and when he did his National Youth Service (NYSC). “In addition, if at any time, he had a change of name, he should state so clearly,” Obi expressed.

  The use of the US dollar and other foreign currencies as legal tender for domestic transactions in Nigeria is under probe, according to a Tuesday order from the House of Representatives sent to the Committee on Banking Regulation. The House of Representatives also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to address Naira’s depreciating value in relation to the dollar and other currencies. The House requested the CBN to alter monetary policy to stabilise the naira, address speculative activity on the foreign exchange market, and raise the naira’s withdrawal cap to lessen pressure on dollars and other foreign currencies. It also asked the Federal Government to develop structural changes and measures to fight corruption and advance the nation’s economy’s diversification. The House additionally asked the Federal Government to increase foreign investors’ confidence in its fiscal and monetary policies to stimulate exporting and decrease importing. It instructed the National Security and Intelligence Committee and the Committee on Banking Regulations to communicate with the Nigerian Central Bank to launch compliance efforts. These resolutions were passed when the Hon. Ismaila Dabo’s motion was approved. You may recall that President Bola Tinubu promised reforms to the nation’s foreign exchange market in June 2023, according to the House of Representatives. This, it said, was done so that market rates, rather than those set by the CBN, would henceforth be used to buy and sell foreign currencies. It also mentioned that the President intended to let market forces determine the value of the naira, but that the frightening exchange rate has had an impact on Nigeria’s economy and caused great suffering owing to a rise in demand for dollars and a lack of dollars. According to the House, oil accounts for roughly 90% of Nigeria’s total export revenue, which is the backbone of the nation’s economy. However, variations in the global price of oil have a significant influence on the local foreign exchange market. This, according to the House, explains why the naira has kept losing value. The House said that despite unification in June, Nigeria’s foreign exchange inflows have lagged, with high demand for foreign currency and restricted access to official markets encouraging purchases on the illegal market. According to the House, the naira has lost a larger percentage of value relative to the dollar, from N778.602/$ in September 2023 to around N1000/$ on the black market. According to the House, this is Nigeria’s first time liberalising the foreign exchange market. The motion reads, “The House is worried about inflation and the cost of living; depreciating naira makes imported goods more expensive, leading to higher inflation rates. This increased cost of living disproportionately affects the most vulnerable citizens, as they struggle to afford basic necessities, which are now glaring across the country. “The House is also worried about the reduction in investment, as the value of the naira continues to lose value and depreciates against the dollar and other foreign currencies, foreign investors may be deterred from investing in Nigeria, fearing potential currency losses, which is capable of stunting economic growth and hindering the creation of new job opportunities for unemployed Nigerian youth. “The House is aware that a weaker and depreciating Naira could increase Nigeria’s external debt servicing costs, potentially reducing government spending on critical sectors like healthcare and education. “The House is also aware that the Central Bank of Nigeria frequently uses its foreign reserves to stabilise the naira, but this can deplete its reserves, making the country vulnerable to economic shocks. “The House is cognizant that addressing Nigeria’s financial challenges requires collective responsibility from all stakeholders, including Parliament, which has been the voice of the common man,” it said.

  Wednesday 11 October 2023 Marketers counter FG, insist fuel subsidy is back Army general jailed seven years, ordered to refund N3.7bn EFCC arrests two suspected internet fraudsters at Skales’ residence 18 parties jostle for 5.4 million votes in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa FG considering special anti-graft court, says AGF NECO Releases 2023 Results, Says 61% Candidates Passed Palestine Petitions UN, Demands Israel Leaves Territories France Turns Page As Troops Begin Leaving Coup-Hit Niger Republic Bayelsa APC Heads To Appeal Court Over Judgment Disqualifying Sylva 67 Bandits Killed, 29 Victims Rescued In Bauchi – Gov Mohammed Gunmen Kidnap Four Nasarawa University Students Police Parade Suspected Killers Of Zamfara Journalist, Two Others I didn’t forge my certificates — Atiku Israel-Hamas war: FG halts pilgrimage as Lagos airlifts 310 from Jerusalem Insecurity: We’ll help Nigeria overcome banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram —EU Ondo court strikes out deputy gov’s case to stop impeachment Israel Vs Gaza: Netanyahu Trying To Start Another World War – Bolaji Akinyemi Nigeria boasts of 8m metric tonnes of fertilizer production capacity Senate moves to tackle alleged oil theft by security forces, militia groups Businessman laments EFCC incessant raids, contemplates suicide Police arrest 124 suspects, recover exhibits in Ogun FCTA dismantles illegal structures, hideout of criminals IMF: Growth coming with Tinubu’s economic policies Federal Govt now to build concrete roads Weah, 19 others await results in Liberia’s poll Army re-arrests three escapee prisoners, 10 others in one week Fed Govt begins insuring 83m poor, vulnerable Nigerians Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  A 38-year-old man, Afeez Gbadamosi, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence court by the Lagos State Government for allegedly sexually molesting his two underage sons who are between ages three and seven. Gbadamosi is facing four counts of sexual assault and indecent behaviour preferred against him by the state. The state prosecuting counsel, Abimbola Abolade, told the court that the incident occurred sometime between 2021 and 2022. She said the molestation took place at the Iyanamuda area of Agric in Ikorodu, Lagos State. Abolade told Justice Abiola Sholadoye that the defendant sexually assaulted the boys by inserting his finger into their anus. She also alleged that Gbadamosi indecently touched their genitals, pressed their buttocks and also made them watch him while he having sexual intercourse with his wife. According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 261 and 264 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defendant’s counsel, O.O Oladipupo, urged the court to grant her client bail in liberal terms. But Justice Sholadoye, before adjourning the case, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending when he can perfect his bail conditions. She adjourned the case till November 20, 2023, for trial.

  US police shot dead a driver whose car crashed into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco on Monday. Unverified footage on social media showed a vehicle inside the building with officers pointing their weapons at the driver’s door, as people fled downstairs and into the open. A spokesman for the consulate said the suspect had driven “violently into our consulate’s administration hall, posing a serious threat to the lives of staff and people on-site and causing serious damage.” San Francisco Police Department’s Sergeant Kathryn Winters said officers responded after being alerted to the vehicle having crashed into the visa office. “Officers entered, made contact with the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred,” Winters told reporters. Officers, paramedics and medics had tried to save the suspect’s life, but that the person was pronounced dead at the hospital some time later, Winters said, adding the police could give no details about the suspect’s identity. The local ABC7 News channel said its crews had seen a man covered in blood and apparently unresponsive being taken away from the scene. This is an open and active investigation and the San Francisco Police Department is currently working in coordination with investigators from the US State Department,” Winters said. The consulate spokesman said the body “strongly condemns this violent attack and reserves the right to pursue accountability for the incident. “The Consulate has made solemn representations to the US side, requesting a prompt investigation into the truth and a serious punishment in accordance with the law.” San Francisco is home to a large number of ethnic Chinese residents, including many from Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing considers a renegade province and has vowed to one day control. AFP

  An Akure High Court, in Ondo state, has struck out a suit instituted by the embattled deputy governor of the state, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, challenging his impeachment by the state House of Assembly.   Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, in his ruling , declined jurisdiction to avoid conflicting verdict between Ondo High Court and Abuja Federal High Court. Akintan-Osadebay, ruled that it was a gross abuse of court process to engage in “forum shopping, by instituting same case in Akure and Abuja High court. It will be recalled that Aiyedatiwa, approached, the court in a suit delineated AK/348/2023 filed on September 25, 2023, to stop the House of Assembly from impeaching him. The deputy governor sought for a declaration that “the House of Assembly is not competent to proceed on his impeachment in breach of his constitutional and fundamental rights to fair hearing and that the sacking of his media aides and subjecting him to the Ministry of Information headed by a Commissioner amounts to a breach of his rights and privileges as a deputy governor. Aiyedatiwa “is also seeking a declaration that his office, tenure, status, rights and privileges are protected, guaranteed and secured by the Constitution, and the declaration that in the determination of his civil rights and obligations as a Deputy Governor of Ondo State by the House of Assembly, he is entitled to a fair hearing and that given the utterances and conduct of the House of Assembly so far, there is likelihood of bias against him in the impeachment process. According to him, in conducting media trials against him without serving him with any notice of gross misconduct, the House Assembly has constituted itself into accuser, investigator, prosecutor and judge. Aiyedatiwa then sought orders of injunction to stop the House of Assembly from initiating, continuing or proceeding with the process of his removal from office as the Deputy Governor of Ondo State. He also seeks an order to stop the Chief Judge of Ondo State from accepting or acting upon any request from the House of Assembly of Ondo State to set up any panel to investigate any acts of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor. Aiyedatiwa named as defendants in the suit filed by human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, are the Ondo State Government, the Governor of Ondo State, Ondo State House of Assembly, Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Clerk of Ondo State House of Assembly and Chief Judge of Ondo State. In the affidavit in support of the originating summons, it was stated that the House of Assembly embarked upon a media trial of the Deputy Governor purely to scandalize him and incite public opinion against him when indeed no notice of acts of alleged gross misconduct was served on him. He also accused the House of Assembly of persecuting him without lawful basis in conspiracy with certain persons who are gladiators in political circles. Dep gov not ready for reconciliation- group Meanwhile, a group under the aegis Ondo Masses Solidarity Movement (MSM) has alleged that the deputy governor, has not withdraw the lawsuit he filed against his impeachment by the Ondo State House of Assembly. The group recall that Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer, Mr. Ebun-olu Adegboruwa (SAN), informed the court that the deputy governor wished to withdraw the suit following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the matter. It’s coordinator, Chief Ogunyemi Jeremiah,in a Statement in Akure, said that “the story was planted in the newspaper to delay the court case and mislead the public about a reconciliation effort. Jeremiah said that ” In light of the ongoing developments in the impeachment process of Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, we find it necessary to address the spread of fake news as published in today’s newspaper. “We urge the public to disregard the false news claiming that Aiyedatiwa has withdrawn his lawsuit against his impeachment. This story, as published, was the work of individuals attempting to delay the case and extend the impeachment process. “In fact, if anything, the deputy governor has shown that he is not ready for reconciliation. “His consistent reference to the reconciliation committee appears to be an act of deception and pretense. It is disappointing that the deputy governor professes reconciliation while actively pursuing legal actions. “Just moments ago, the deputy governor appealed the ruling of the Akure High Court that declined jurisdiction on the suit challenging his impeachment. “This contradicts Aiyedatiwa’s reconciliation stance. One cannot advocate for reconciliation while simultaneously initiating court proceedings. “As stakeholders in Ondo State, we have lost confidence in the deputy governor’s ability to continue holding public office. Jeremiah said that ” Resorting to legal measures to halt impeachment proceedings, especially when facing serious allegations related to taxpayers’ money without providing any response, is a disservice to the people of the state.

  The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed speculations surrounding his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificate. Atiku who spoke through one of his media aides, Chief Dele Momodu, clarified what appeared to be a discrepancy in the former Vice President’s secondary school certificate.   Momodu, gave the clarification in a post on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, on Tuesday. He explained that the clarification became necessary following allegations of forgery against Atiku by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Momodu noted that some members of the ruling party had questioned the name ”Sadiq Abubakar” in Atiku’s WAEC certificate as against his other credentials. Momodu said he forwarded the accusations to the former vice president, who also provided an answer for the discrepancy. He wrote, “The APC busybodies have been bombarding me with allegations of forgery against my Principal, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR (GCON), which I immediately forwarded to him and here is his copious response: ‘Yes I used Sadiq Abubakar to sit for my WAEC and after passing my exams I went to swear an affidavit to say I am the same person as ATIKU Abubakar. “I went to ABU as Atiku Abubakar and passed my Exams as Atiku Abubakar. Interviewed as Atiku Abubakar by the Federal Civil Service Commission and hired into the Customs Service as Atiku Abubakar. So where is forgery there?’ – ATIKU ABUBAKAR “CAN THE APC social media bullies forward the deluge of questions in circulation to their boss and get instant and direct response? He queried.