Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old woman, Mrs Edeh Osinachi, for allegedly torturing her 17-year-old domestic worker by pressing a hot electric iron on her body in Awka, the state capital. The police said the suspect was handed over to them on Wednesday by officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Education after school authorities raised alarm over the teenager’s severe injuries. Confirming the arrest in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said teachers noticed the burns on the girl during a school session and immediately reported the matter, prompting further investigation. “Preliminary…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has uncovered the names of deceased Nigerians on the national voters’ register, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of the country’s electoral database. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the commission’s first quarterly meeting with civil society organisations, saying the discovery followed an internal audit of the register. Amupitan said the presence of dead persons’ names on the roll undermined public confidence in elections and made a comprehensive cleanup unavoidable. “Our review shows that some people who passed on long ago are still listed as eligible voters. This is…

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, on Wednesday said Nigerians should be grateful for the operational Dangote Refinery, describing it as a major relief to the country’s fragile fuel supply system. Ojulari spoke at the International Energy Summit 2026 in Abuja, where he said the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery had helped cushion the impact of supply disruptions and reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products. “Thank God for Dangote Refinery. Thank God. Whether you love Dangote or you hate him, Nigerians should thank God for Dangote,” he said to applause from participants. He…

The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola,  Otileta VII, has commended the Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria for conducting a peaceful and orderly leadership transition, describing the development as a model for professional bodies in the state. The monarch gave the commendation on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the newly inaugurated Ogun FIBAN executive, led by its Chairman, Chief Olalekan Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, at his palace in Oke Ago-Owu, Abeokuta. Oba Matemilola praised the association for restoring unity among its members and urged the new leadership…

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the money laundering trial and the civil forfeiture suit involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to Justice Obiora Egwuatu. The reassignment affects both the criminal case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the civil action seeking the forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to unlawful proceeds. According to court sources, the forfeiture suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026 will now come up on February 12, while the criminal trial, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, has been fixed for February 16. Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir,…

Former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, on Tuesday slumped outside his office in Abuja and was rushed to a private hospital for urgent medical attention. A media aide, Emmanuel Nweke, said Maina lost his balance while attempting to access the office, fell on the staircase and hit his head before passing out. In a statement, Nweke attributed the incident to complications arising from an untreated knee injury. “The incident occurred following complications from an untreated knee injury, which caused him to lose balance and fall, resulting in his head hitting the staircase,” he said. He…

The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has insisted on the presentation of payment receipts before admitting Certified True Copies, CTCs, of documents in the ongoing ₦80.2 billion money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello. This was disclosed on Wednesday via the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s, EFCC, X handle. Bello is being prosecuted by the agency on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering involving the alleged sum of ₦80,246,470,088.88. At the resumed hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, told the court that the matter was “slated for the…

Fawaz Adebisi, Aishah Waliyullah, Zainab Abioye, Fareedah Ogundairo, Uthman Ogunfolaji,& Grace Adeleke Ogun State celebrates its Golden Jubilee on Tuesday, marking precisely 50 years since its creation on February 3, 1976, from the former Western State under General Murtala Muhammed’s administration. With the state’s administrative structure evolving from seven initial local government areas (LGAs) in 1976 to the current stable 20 LGAs by 1996, following reforms under military regimes (Babangida in 1991 and Abacha in 1996), its leadership framework underpinned steady sectoral growth across civilian administrations. … Education Sector Under Five Govs PLATFORM TIMES reports that Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, 1979–1983,…

The Ogun State Police Command has invited some kingmakers involved in the ongoing Awujale of Ijebuland succession process over allegations of bribery and financial inducement, in a development that has further heightened tension around the highly sensitive royal transition. PLATFORM TIMES learnt that the invitation was issued through the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, as part of a fact-finding probe into claims that certain individuals attempted to influence the selection process through monetary and material inducements. A police invitation letter dated February 3, 2026, and signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, DCP Gbenga…

The Osun State chapter of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association has formally appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the August 8, 2026 governorship election, citing security and logistical concerns arising from the annual Osun-Osogbo Festival. In a letter dated January 20, 2026 and addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the association’s president, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, warned that the coincidence of the election with the climax of the globally acclaimed festival could overstretch security agencies and disrupt electoral operations. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the grand finale of the 2026 Osun-Osogbo Festival is scheduled for Friday, August…