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Presidency affirms Lokpobiri’s stand on petrol price

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By Francesca Hangeior

The Presidency has explained why government agencies cannot engage in the ongoing price dispute between Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Dangote Refinery, citing the fact that both enterprises are private.

In a statement on Friday, by the Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on media, Nnaamaka Okafor, the Presidency corroborated the minister’s stand on the pricing feud between the NNPCL and Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Recall that Lokpobiri had stated shortly after a brief meeting he had earlier this month with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, that the price of petrol in the country could differ in various locations, but by the time there is the availability of products across the country, the price will be stabilised.

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The minister further stated that the sector is deregulated and therefore the government is not responsible for fixing prices.

The minister had said, “What is important is that the government is not fixing prices. This sector is deregulated. And we believe that with the availability of products, the price will find its level. And this is important for Nigerians to know.

“There is enough product in the country to be able to meet the demands of Nigerians, there should be no panic buying. And we also believe that Nigerians need to know that the government is not fixing prices.

That is what I want to convey to Nigerians.”

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However, Okafor in the statement on Friday, noted that while corroborating this during a press briefing, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr.
Bayo Onanuga, also emphasised what Lokpobiri had said earlier that both entities operate independently in a deregulated market.

He said under the Petroleum Industry Act, NNPCL functions autonomously despite government ownership.
“The PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) field, the PMS regime, has been deregulated. Dangote is a private company. NNPCL should not forget it’s a limited liability company. Whatever controversy both of them are having is their own problem.

“They are operating, even if you go by the terms of petroleum industry act NNPCL is on its own, even though it’s owned by the federal government, the state government and local councils and everything, but it’s operating as a limited liability company.

“You can see what the private market has said that I think they find the NNPC or Dangote price too much for them. They will resolve to import fuel because they clear the market at the end of the day. It’s the consumer who benefits if a price war starts, if NNPC fuel is too much, the public market can go to the market and bring in their fuel and sell at the price that they think is very reasonable and profitable for them.

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“So my answer is that, as far as this is concerned, the government is not dabbling into this controversy. Dangote as a private company is working on his own. NNPC is a limited liability company, and it has the right to fix the price of its own and so on,” the statement quoted Onanuga to have said.

Onanuga added that instead of intervening, the government plans to promote alternative energy solutions like Compressed Natural Gas, and CNG, offering a cheaper option for consumers and subsidizing conversion costs for vehicles.

He noted that the price difference is significant, with CNG costing about N230 per litre equivalent compared to PMS at about N850 per litre.

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My dad has no dealings with Bobrisky – Falana’s daughter

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***Says, they are set to battle VDM in court

By Francesca Hangeior.

 

Folakemi Falana, daughter of human rights lawyer Femi Falana, has fired back at accusations of bribery and corruption involving her father, her brother, Falz, and Nigerian socialite Bobrisky.

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In a statement on her Instagram page on Friday, Folakemi clarified that her father had never met or spoken to Bobrisky and that Bobrisky reached out to Falz for financial assistance to stay in the VIP section of prison without discussing a presidential pardon.

She shared documents showing Falana & Falana’s history of applying for presidential pardons free of charge since 2016, emphasizing that anyone can request a pardon for a convicted person in Nigeria.

Folakemi expressed frustration that some Nigerians are quick to believe baseless accusations, including claims of Falz being homosexual and having an affair with Bobrisky.

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.

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“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?.”

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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 recently released audio recordings where Bobrisky allegedly claimed that Femi Falana and his son, Falz, had contacted him before his release from prison.

The recordings also suggested that Femi Falana arranged a settlement for 10 million naira to resolve the case.

Reacting to these allegations, Falz issued a 24-hour ultimatum to VDM, demanding the removal of all defamatory statements.

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Charity commission ban Naomi Campbell for using funds on spa treatment

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By Francesca Hangeior.

Naomi Campbell, the British supermodel, has been banned from being a charity trustee in England and Wales for five years.

In a statement by the UK Charity Commission, Fashion for Relief, Campbell’s charity, was said to have been “poorly governed and managed financially” by the trustees.

The inquiry which was conducted between April 2016 and July 2022 found that only 8.5% of the funds raised were spent on charitable grants.

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It added that part of the charity funds was also used to pay Campbell’s stay at luxurious hotels, spa treatment as well as her cigarettes.

Reacting to the inquiry in an interview with AP, Campbell said she was unaware of the expenses because she “was not in control of my charity”.

“I have just found out today about the findings, and I am extremely concerned,” she said.

“I was not in control of my charity, I put the control in the hands of a legal employer.”

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Asides from Campbell, Veronica Chou and Bianca Hellmich are among trustees sanctioned.

Hellmich was banned for nine years for receiving $385,000 of unauthorized funds for consultancy services. Chou was banned for four years.

Commenting on the ban, Tim Hopkins, who was part of the investigation, said Campbell and the other trustees failed in their legal duties.

“Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity’s best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities,” he said.

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“Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them”.

About £344,000 has also been recovered and a further £98,000 of charitable funds have been protected.

The funds were used to make donations to two other charities and settle outstanding liabilities.

Campbell founded Fashion For Relief in 2005 with the aim of relieving poverty.

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By Francesca Hangeior.

 

Amid the ongoing N15 million alleged bribery, embattled Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky has stirred reactions on social media as he shares a new video on his Instagram page.

This is coming 24-hours after Bobrisky sparked concern among fans by opening up about suicidal thoughts and feelings of betrayal by friends.

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Despite ongoing controversy and bribery allegations, Bobrisky remains unfazed and refuses to be deterred.

Sharing video of himself, Bobrisky captioned it with a confident declaration, saying “ I’m pretty”.

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