Five people were arrested in India for the killing of a seven-year-old boy in an alleged ritual sacrifice aimed at bringing good fortune to a public school, police said Friday.
The victim was found dead in his bed on Sunday night at the hostel where he lived in the city of Hathras, not far from the country’s famed Taj Mahal.
Instead of alerting authorities, police said that school director Dinesh Baghel hid the body in the trunk of his car.
Police officer Himanshu Mathur told AFP that the boy was killed before a black magic ceremony conducted by Baghel’s father.
“The boy was meant to be taken to an altar as part of a ritual, but got killed before the ceremony could be completed,” he said.
Baghel and his father were arrested along with three other teachers at the school, Mathur added.
Mathur did not give further details on how the child had died and local media reports said the body was undergoing a post-mortem examination.
India’s National Crime Records Bureau lodged 103 cases of human sacrifice in the country between 2014 and 2021.
Ritual killings are usually conducted to appease deities and are more common in tribal and remote areas, where belief in witchcraft and the occult is widespread.
Last year police arrested five men for the 2019 murder of a 64-year-old woman who was killed and decapitated with a machete after visiting a temple in India’s remote northeast.
Police said the alleged ringleader had been conducting a religious rite to mark the anniversary of his brother’s death.
It has been congratulations galore for the founder of Living Faith Church a.k.a Winners Chapel, Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo who turned 70 today, September 27, 2024.
Notable pastors and organizations from across the country and other parts of the world have joined the members of Living Faith Church in sending their congratulatory messages to the revered Preacher.
Joining the host of others in celebrating Oyedepo ’s 70th birthday, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, and his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye on his Facebook page wrote, ‘ Happy 70th Birthday, our dear son, Bishop David Oyedepo’.
Pastor Adeboye in his congratulatory message said: “Today, Mummy & I celebrate not just your life, but the incredible journey of faith, dedication, and service to God that you have walked.
“Watching how God has used you to impact countless lives and expand His Kingdom has been a great joy for me. Your passion, unwavering commitment, and boldness in faith have been truly inspiring.
“As you step into this new decade, my prayer is that God continues to renew your strength, guide your every step, and fill your heart with His peace.
“May His grace over your life multiply, and may your influence for His Kingdom continue to grow beyond measure.
“Thank you for being a faithful servant of the Lord. Happy Birthday, and may God bless you abundantly, our dear son.”
The Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, wrote on his social media handle: “Happy Birthday Dad. Thank you for the sacrifice of alignment. Thank you for the privilege of access. Thank you for the gift of fatherhood and mentorship. Thank you for bringing light and direction to my life and ministry.
“As you celebrate 70, I pray that you will celebrate greater years of impact and exploit. I love you Papey.”
Also, the Senior pastor at Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, Dr. Paul Enenche and his wife Dr.
Becky said: “Exactly 70 years ago, a generational shining star, trailblazer, road pointer, pace-setter, history maker, men raiser, God-addict was born. “Blessed be the womb that carried you and blessed be the day of your birth Papa. You have not left your generation the way you met it. Papa, as your days, so may your strength be.
“The Lord cause you to finish the race set before you in strength, victory and triumph. And may Heaven be your home at the end of the day in Jesus Name.
“Happy! Happy! Happy birthday Sir. We love you dearly Sir.”
It has been alleged that controversial Nigerian cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky spent only three weeks behind bars, instead of the 6 months that he was given to serve by a court. This is according to a report by FIJ.
This has now raised eyebrows regarding the integrity of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He was Initially sentenced to six months for naira abuse in April.
It all started after social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan released an alleged audio of Bobrisky allegedly confessed to serving his term outside prison.
He alleged that Bobrisky paid ₦15 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to have ‘money laundering’ charges expunged from her record.
A prison official told FIJ, “Bob spent only three weeks here with us in Kirikiri before she was taken out to another place we don’t know.
“That was where she spent her time; it was an ‘arrangee thing’. And money was involved.”
The source revealed how Bobrisky was “guarded like a president” until he was “secretly taken away after three weeks.”
“(S)he received VIP treatment all through,” said the source. “(S)he lived in a special cell. The money (s)he said she paid is actually true; no lies. Yes, (s)he paid the money.”
Although the prison authorities did not allow Bobrisky to mingle freely with other inmates, consequently reducing the chances of his eventual disappearance being spotted, the prison official told FIJ about one noteworthy incident.
“There was this day one guy was on a video call with his girlfriend, and he suddenly turned the camera on Bobrisky,” the official said. “It was deemed an invasion of Bobrisky’s privacy, so, as punishment, he was locked up in his cell for nearly two months.”
The source added, “As I said, s()he was heavily guarded, so there weren’t many of such incidents to point at. And (s)he was quietly taken away after three weeks.”
Naija News reports that details of the debt were confirmed by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in its audit of the petroleum sector.
The report, presented on Friday in Abuja, detailed that as of August 31, 2024, the unpaid royalties and gas flare penalties owed to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) amounted to $6.071 billion and ₦66.4 billion.
According to the report, the outstanding petroleum profit taxes, company income taxes, withholding taxes, and VAT owed to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) totalled $21.926 million and ₦492.8 million as of June 2024.
NEITI also noted a 9 percent decline in industry revenue for 2023, with figures showing $16.467 billion compared to $18.106 billion in 2022.
The report highlighted a total loss of 7.68 million barrels of crude oil in 2023 due to theft and measurement inaccuracies, marking a significant decrease of 79 percent from the 36.69 million barrels lost in 2022.
Additionally, 153.44 million barrels of crude oil production were deferred in 2023, with companies such as SPDC (39.13 million barrels), TEPNG (6.07 million barrels), and TUPNI (3.5 million barrels) being notably impacted.
It was also reported that the government disbursed ₦3.01 trillion as a petrol subsidy in 2023, a decrease from ₦4.71 trillion in 2022.
The report indicated that 23.54 billion litres of PMS (premium motor spirit) were imported into the country in 2022, while imports fell to 20.28 billion liters in 2023, reflecting a reduction of 3.25 billion litres, or a 14 percent decline, following the subsidy removal.
“A detailed 10-year trend analysis (2014-2023) shows that the highest annual PMS importation into the country, 23.54 billion litres, was recorded in 2022, while the lowest, 16.88 billion litres, was recorded in 2017. A total of N15.87 trillion was claimed as under-recovery/price differentials between 2006 and 2023, with the highest amount, N4.714 trillion, recorded in 2022,” the NEITI audit revealed.
In his remark at the report unveiling, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, assured stakeholders that the government would continue to grant NEITI the freedom to fulfil its mandate to the country and the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI.
Sen. Akume said: “As the Chairman of the NEITI Board, I stand before you today to underscore the Federal Government’s respect for NEITI’s independence. While my role as Chairperson is a testament to the importance the government places on NEITI, it also signifies the commitment to ensure that NEITI operates independently, without interference, as mandated by the EITI standard. We must safeguard this independence with great care and diligence, ensuring that NEITI can operate free from undue influence.”
EFCC Chair Vows To Recover Revenues
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukayode, pledged to utilize the most recent report to facilitate the recovery of all outstanding revenues owed by the companies to the government.
He further stated that based on previous reports from NEITI, the EFCC has successfully recovered and remitted more than ₦1 billion to the Federal Government’s accounts.
[NaijaNews]
The Delta State Government has issued a stern warning to medical personnel who provide family planning for underage girls to desist from such acts or face the wrath of the law.
The State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General (AG), Ohwovoriole Ekemejero SAN, gave the warning at the World Contraception Day held on Thursday in Asaba, the State capital.
Ohwovoriole, represented by the Director of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Unit, Mrs Patricia Akanagwuna, said providing minor access to these facilities without the consent of the girl child’s parents or guardian is illegal in the eye of the law, and those involved must be punished accordingly.
“In the eye of the law, any medical doctor that provides family planning for minors will face prosecution. The law did not permit such, the doctor must seek the consent of the parents or guardians,” he stated.
He however advised the medical personnel that, as principles, “allow individual women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, free from coercion or judgment, in addition to Protecting their right to confidentiality when seeking contraceptive services.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, said the family planning town hall meeting which was held today’s World Contraceptive Day was to sensitise every individual’s right to make choices about themselves.
He urged women to adopt family planning for their benefit
Also, the Executive Director, State Primary Health Development Agency, Dr Paul U. called on stakeholders, including local government chairmen, to fund to support family planning.
The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, has said the increase in allowance for corps members aligned with the promise of President Bola Tinubu to give the best to the citizens.
Jamila Ibrahim said President Tinubu’s vision for Nigerian youths has always been clear, which is to improve their welfare.
Naija News reported that the federal government increased the monthly allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from ₦33,000 to ₦77,000, with effect from July 2024.
In a statement, the Minister of Youths stated that the increase in the allowance of corps members is a direct reflection of the commitment of her ministry’s effort to improve the welfare of youths in the country.
“The President’s vision for Nigerian youth has always been clear—he supports any initiative that improves their welfare and prospects. This allowance increase is a direct reflection of that commitment, and the Ministry is pleased that this has become a reality.
“The increase is not just a response to economic challenges; it is part of a strategic agenda to enhance the conditions of service for our youth, ensuring they are well-equipped to contribute to national development,” Ibrahim said.
The Minister added that the allowance increase is just “one of many initiatives the Ministry of Youth Development will continue to pursue to improve the lives of youths”.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission says it plans to invest $380 million in electricity in public schools and health centres in Nigeria, Benin, Chad and 16 other African countries.
The commission said the electrification exercise would be carried out through its Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) and it is aimed at addressing power deficit across the region.
The project is funded by the World Bank, Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and Directorate General of International Cooperation (DGIS) of the government of the Netherlands.
This was disclosed yesterday at a stakeholders’ engagement forum on energising public institutions in Nigeria, where the senior adviser at the commission on ROGEAP, El-hadji Sylla, said the project was aimed at increasing access to electricity for rural communities in the ECOWAS region.
“We want to promote a new innovative chain to electrify public institutions. Our target is to electrify schools and health centres to improve the service delivery. We are piloting the project in Nigeria and Benin Republic. The project covers 15 countries in the ECOWAS region and four countries in the Sahel region,” he said.
Speaking specifically on the implementation of the project in Nigeria, Sylla said the commission hopes to electrify selected public schools and health centres in the FCT, Niger and Nasarawa states in the next 18 months, noting that for the pilot project in Nigeria and Benin, they are targeting 18 months for completion but the entire project in the region is expected to be executed in five years in the various countries.
Also speaking, Engr. Bem Ayangeaor, the representative of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu said rural electrification space in Nigeria had witnessed growth through grants and subsidies.
He said the ministry through capital subsidies administered by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has been implementing innovative solutions to electrify rural communities.
[Leadership]
Folakemi Falana, the daughter of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, has denied allegations of bribery and corruption involving her father, her brother, Nigerian musician Falz, and popular socialite Bobrisky.
Taking to her Instagram page, Folakemi addressed the accusations head-on, clarifying that her father has never met nor communicated with Bobrisky.
She further explained that Bobrisky had reached out to Falz solely for financial assistance during his incarceration, specifically to secure a more comfortable position in the VIP section of the prison.
She stressed that there had been no discussions related to a presidential pardon.
To bolster her claims, Folakemi shared documents showing that Falana & Falana Chambers has, since 2016, provided free legal support for individuals seeking presidential pardons.
She highlighted that, in Nigeria, any citizen has the right to request a pardon for a convicted person, pointing out that her family’s efforts to assist in such cases have been transparent and at no cost.
Folakemi also expressed disappointment over the spread of false rumors, particularly those claiming that Falz is homosexual or involved in an affair with Bobrisky.
She criticised the tendency of some Nigerians to believe unsubstantiated claims, urging the public to be more discerning about the information they consume.
She wrote, “My Parents and our firm, Falana & Falana have been applying for presidential pardons for Nigerians FREE way before a lot of you were born or before you could talk. Slide 1 is from 2016 and Slide 2 is from 2022.
“It’s crazy that some Nigerians act like they can’t read or think for themselves. It’s unfortunate.
“It’s even crazier that all it takes is for a ridiculous character like VDM to accuse my dad and Falz of bribery, corruption and perversion of the course of Justice and you suddenly forget who they are and what they stand for. For him to have the audacity to go as far as even accusing Falz of being homosexual and having an affair with Bobrisky is wild. The fact that some of you believe it, is what is blowing my mind.
“For the record, anyone can write the president to request a pardon for any convicted person in Nigeria.
“To be crystal clear, the facts are as follows: 1) My dad has never met or talked to Bobrisky whether directly or via a proxy.
“2) Bobrisky reached out to Falz the same way he reached out to many other celebrities asking for money. The reason he gave was so that he could afford to stay in the VIP section of prison. He never discussed a presidential pardon with him. He said he was reaching out from prison Falz had no reason to believe otherwise.
“3) DO you think my dad or Falz need Bob’s money??? for what?.”
Folakemi condemned the accusations as baseless and threatened legal action against the accuser, VeryDarkMan (VDM), saying “Seeing as you have refused to do the needful, #verydarkblackman see you in court.”
Recall that VeryDarkMan shared audio recordings in which Bobrisky allegedly stated that both Femi Falana and his son, Falz, had reached out to him prior to his release from prison.
The recordings further implied that Femi Falana had negotiated a settlement of 10 million naira to settle the case.
In response to these claims, Falz issued a 24-hour ultimatum to VeryDarkMan, demanding the immediate retraction of all defamatory remarks
Nigerian workers have confirmed receiving Federal Government’s new minimum wage.
The spokesperson of Nigeria Labour Congress, Benson Upah and the Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress, Tommy Etim disclosed this in a separate statement on Thursday.
Upah and Etim’s comments come as DAILY POST exclusively reported on Thursday that the Federal Government has begun the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage.
Reacting to the new minimum wage payment commencement, Upah, asked establishments in the country to emulate the example set by the Federal Government.
“Yes, I think so. We ask other entities to emulate this example”, he said.
Similarly, TUC’s Etim said, “FG’s committee on consequential adjustments already released a template, so, no one has any moral ground to delay the payment of the minimum wage. We now advise that all other parties follow suit and commence the payment of the new minimum wage.”
A civil servant working in the office of the Head of Civil Service, who is not authorized to speak, also confirmed that he has received a new minimum wage payment for September 2024.
“I got an alert around 2 pm on Thursday. I am hoping the arrears will come too”, he told DAILY POST.
Some of the federal workers confirmed that they received an additional N40,000 to their previous salary, as consequential adjustment.
The implication meant that over 1.2 million workers under the federal government’s payment have begun to receive payment of the new minimum wage.
On Tuesday Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ekpo Nta, confirmed that the government has approved the upward review of the consolidated public service salary structure, CONPSS in line with the Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024.
This followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of N70,000 new Minimum wage on July 18, 2024.
Tinubu’s approval was followed by the Senate passage of the new minimum wage bill into law.
The N70,000 minimum wage was a 100 percent pay rise from the N30,000 paid under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Meanwhile, the payment rise implementation for Nigerian workers came at the same time prices of goods and services had hit the rooftops as Headline and Food Inflation stood at 32.15 and 37.52 percent in August 2024.
[DailyPost]
Ms. YAN Yuqing, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, has described Nigeria as the largest engineering contracting market for China in Africa.
Yuqing disclosed that Chinese companies have been actively participating in infrastructural projects in Nigeria, saying that their participation significantly promote local economic and social development, and improving people’s livelihoods.
She stated this in her article tittled ” UNGA Resolution 2758 Brooks no challenge”, saying China and Nigeria, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, will deepen mutual trust and cooperation in various fields.
“China and Nigeria, under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, will deepen mutual trust and cooperation in various fields, firmly support each other’s core interests, join hands to build a high-level China-Nigeria Community with a shared future, and uphold a new international order based on equity and justice”, she added.
“FOCAC was a remarkable event, attended by the leaders of 53 out of 54 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, along with nearly 6,000 Chinese and foreign guests.
“The summit adopted by consensus the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era, which clearly states that Africa reaffirms its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and reaffirms that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and firmly supports all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. The FOCAC has created strong momentum in favour of one-China principle”
Yuqing stated: “The People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1971, and the Joint Communiqué on the establishment states that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole lawful Government representing the entire Chinese people.”
“Since then, the bilateral relations have developed robustly and smoothly on the basis of the one-China Principle. Recently, President Tinubu was invited to visit China and attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and the Nigerian side reaffirmed in the China-Nigerian Joint Statement that “firmly adheres to the one-China principle, acknowledges that there is but one China in the world, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.
“Nigeria opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ or interference in the internal affairs of China and firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification and the Chinese side supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria and the efforts made by Nigeria to maintain national unity, peace, security, and social stability, as well as promote economic development and improve people’s welfare”.
[TheNation]
More...
The landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol or fuel, has decreased to ₦981 per litre, as reported by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on Thursday.
This reduction marks a decline of over ₦140 from the previous weeks, where the petrol landing cost was approximately ₦1,130, attributed to the recent fall in global crude oil prices as of September 25, 2024.
The prices of crude oil and foreign exchange rates play a significant role in determining the costs of refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and kerosene.
In August 2024, Brent crude, the global benchmark, was trading at an average of over $80 per barrel but has since fluctuated between $70 and $75 per barrel this month.
On Thursday, it was recorded at $71.41 per barrel, a decrease from the previous day’s price of $73.46 per barrel, according to industry data from the Petroleum Ministry.
Data from Statistica, a global statistical firm, indicated that the average price of a barrel of Brent in August 2024 was $80.36, reflecting a decline from the prior month due to reduced oil demand in China and indications from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries regarding potential production increases.
In light of the falling petrol landing cost and rising pump prices across the nation, major oil marketers have begun importing the product.
NNPCL
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) previously held the exclusive position of petrol importer into the nation before the recent increase in fuel prices and the initiation of production and distribution by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Recall that on September 18, 2024, three prominent oil marketers anticipated the arrival of vessels carrying imported petrol the previous week, contingent upon any unforeseen events.
The marketers indicated that approximately 141 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were being transported to Nigeria by these vessels following the federal government’s complete deregulation of the downstream oil sector.
They confirmed on Thursday that some of these vessels had indeed reached Nigerian shores.
This development coincides with the Dangote oil refinery increasing its local petrol production after more than twenty years of reliance on fuel imports.
According to the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), the landing cost of petrol began to decline in mid-July, dropping below N950 in early September.
Notably, this decrease occurred despite the appreciation of the dollar against the naira, with the landing cost calculated at ₦1,667.22 per dollar.
As of Wednesday, MEMAN reported that the average ex-depot price of petrol ranged from ₦865 to N1,200 in Lagos, ₦980 to ₦1,400 in Calabar, and ₦1,200 to N1,400 in Port Harcourt.
The major marketers also revealed that the landing cost of diesel is currently N1,089 per litre, while aviation fuel is priced at ₦1,117.34.
It was noted that the average ex-depot price of diesel is approximately ₦1,165 in Lagos and ranges from ₦1,200 to ₦1,200 in both Calabar and Port Harcourt.
Furthermore, it was observed that the price difference between imported petrol and that produced by Dangote could be ₦83, assuming a purchase price of ₦898, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Company claimed to have paid for Dangote’s fuel.
Although officials from the $20 billion refinery have denied selling their fuel at N898 to the NNPC, they have not provided an alternative figure for over a week.
It is worth mentioning that the NNPC raised petrol prices on the same day that the Dangote refinery launched its locally-produced fuel.
The NNPC has announced that it will offer petrol sourced from the Dangote refinery at prices exceeding ₦1,000 per litre in the northern regions of the country.
Recently, the NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said the price could reach as high as ₦1,019 per litre in areas such as Borno State, while it may be set at ₦999.22 in cities like Abuja, Sokoto, and Kano.
In southern regions, including Oyo and Rivers, the price is expected to be N960 per litre.
The lowest recorded price, as indicated in an infographic shared by the NNPC, is ₦950 in Lagos and its surrounding areas.
However, it has been noted that petrol prices can soar to ₦1,200 or more in certain locations across Nigeria, while some major retailers continue to offer a litre for ₦910 in Lagos.
In a recent media discussion with prominent journalists, Dapo Segun, the Executive Vice President of Downstream at the NNPC, clarified that although an agreement has been established with managing the Dangote refinery, pricing will ultimately be determined by market conditions.
Segun also provided details regarding the negotiations between the NNPC and Aliko Dangote.
“Dangote said to us, ‘This is how much I want for it (PMS)’. And we say, ‘Hey, Dangote, if we go out there, we can get it for this much, so we won’t pay you this much for it‘. And we went into the negotiation. And that negotiation took us over a week to complete. They (Dangote officials) will come with their position, we’ll come with a counter; they’ll come with a revised position, and we’ll counter it.
“At the end of the day, we were able to reach an agreement on what to be the price to pay for it,” Segun said.
He emphasized a statement by Soneye that the company would lift Dangote PMS only if it was cheaper than imported one.
Meanwhile, the sale of PMS to NNPC continues at the Dangote refinery as Nigerians are hopeful that the price of PMS will crash when the naira crude sale begins on October 1, 2024.
The ongoing saga surrounding the sentencing of controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, continues to unfold, revealing new layers of intrigue and speculation.
According to reports from Naija News, the controversy intensified following the release of an audio clip by activist and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
In this explosive audio, Bobrisky allegedly admitted to bribing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in exchange for dropping money laundering charges against him and facilitating his escape from imprisonment at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos State.
The revelations have sent shockwaves through social media, prompting users to question the integrity of the legal proceedings surrounding Bobrisky.
Additionally, many are left speculating about the identity of James Brown, another prominent cross-dresser, who, on June 8, announced a visit to Bobrisky at Kirikiri.
A source in James’ camp told FIJ on Thursday, “By the time James visited, Bobrisky was no longer in prison.
“James went there to see one guy called Vindicate who had invited her to join in recording a song from prison. The prison authorities liked the idea of a song recorded from prison, so they let her come.
“I don’t know why James lied that she went to see Bobrisky; maybe for clout. I will send you videos of James in prison with the people she went there to see. But have you ever seen just one photo of Bob and James in prison?”
Japanese auto giant Toyota is to end their top-tier Olympics sponsorship, its chairman has said, citing the sporting showpiece’s “increasingly political” influence that puts athletes on the back burner.
Toyota struck a 10-year sponsorship deal in 2015 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
But now, with the Paris Games over, the carmaker decided to end the contract, chairman Akio Toyoda said during a podcast episode uploaded Thursday on the firm’s own YouTube channel.
“I’ve wondered for a while now whether the event is truly putting athletes first”, Toyoda said.
“It is also becoming increasingly political”.
The withdrawal means Olympics logos currently carried by Toyota products will be phased out, and its vehicles will no longer be provided to assist with the event, the chairman said.
Public broadcaster NHK said the company is also ending its Paralympics sponsorship deal.
“For me, the Olympics should simply be about watching athletes from all walks of life, with all types of challenges, achieve their impossible,” Toyoda told the US auto dealers.
Toyota follows another Japanese company Panasonic in ending their association with the Olympics.
Panasonic announced their withdrawal earlier this month citing “management considerations”.
The electronics giant said it agreed with the IOC not to extend their sponsorship agreement when the current contract expires in December.
Panasonic became an “official Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games” in 1987 and expanded its sponsorship to the Paralympics from 2014.
But it decided to let the contract expire “as the Group continually reviews how sponsorship should evolve with broader management considerations”.
“As a result of this review, and after extensive consultation with the IOC, the parties agreed to refrain from renewing the Olympic and Paralympic Partner Agreement,” Panasonic said without offering details.
[Vanguard]
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says investigations into allegations of bandit sponsorship in the north-west of the country are ongoing.
Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence; and Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara; have lobbed allegations of bandit sponsorship each other’s way.
Matawalle challenged Lawal to swear by the Holy Qur’an that he was not involved in sponsoring bandits.
Responding, Lawal pledged to reveal evidence against the minister. He said he had reported the issue to Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA).
Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, spoke on the military’s interest in the allegations during a press briefing on Thursday.
Buba noted that relevant agencies are thoroughly investigating the matter.
He added that the military remains focused on defeating banditry by breaking the resolve of the criminals.
“And when you talk about what’s going on about the sponsors, I can assure you that the relevant agencies that are saddled with that responsibility are doing a good job. And sooner than later, you will hear some announcements in that regard,” he said.
“Winning a war is destroying the enemy’s will to fight. When you destroy the enemy’s will to fight, the war is over, you have won the war. And that’s why we are focused on destroying the enemy’s will to fight.”
ELIMINATING BANDIT KINGPINS
Speaking about the military’s operations from July to September, Buba noted that 1,937 terrorists had been killed, including 65 key leaders.
“Troops’ offensive actions culminated in the neutralisation of over 65 notable terrorist leaders, commanders, and combatants across all theatres of operations. Significant terrorist leaders were eliminated from the battlefield,” he said.
“The bandit leaders include Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Matawal Bitrus, Thomas Benedict, Mohammed Sani, Rimamy (aka Omo), Terkimbi Injoko, Jacob Uzege, Ibn Kasir, Kachalla Ɗan Baleri, Kachallah Halilu Jimmare (Buzu), Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama, Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna, Kachalla Basiru Zakarriya, and Ofem Igwe.”
Buba added that 2,782 suspected terrorists and other criminals were arrested, and 1,854 kidnapped hostages were rescued in the third quarter of 2024.
He said troops recovered 1,304 weapons and 43,347 rounds of ammunition.
He also noted that within the same period, crude oil worth N13 billion was recovered by the troops.
“Troops denied oil thieves of an estimated sum of over N13,081,605,534, 12,143,870 litres of stolen crude oil, 2,623,216 litres of illegally refined AGO, 6,970 litres of DPK, and 31,450 litres of PMS amongst other items,” he said.
“Accordingly, the nation’s daily crude oil production output is at an all-time high, with the nation’s daily target in sight.”
[TheCable]