Author: Platform Times Newspaper

….Families Demand Open trial, Access To Husbands … Human Rights Activists Back Calls For Transparency Daud Olatunji Wives and family members of Nigerian military officers detained over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu staged a protest in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday, demanding transparency and immediate access to their husbands. The protesters, accompanied by human rights activists including Omoyele Sowore and Barrister Deji Adeyanju, said their husbands had spent more than five months in detention without being formally arraigned before a court. “For more than 160 days, our families have lived in uncertainty and fear. Today,…

The Lagos State Police Command has refunded ₦150,000 to a woman who alleged that operatives of the state’s Tactical Squad abducted her and two friends and demanded ₦800,000 for their release. The victim, Helena Nelson Ikoi, disclosed the development on her Facebook page after visiting the police station with a friend, Jude, to meet the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) handling the case. She said the officers involved were initially aggressive but appeared subdued during the meeting. Ikoi said the DPO assured her that the officer who allegedly slapped her would be identified and punished. “Hi everyone, update on the Police…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that at least 100 senior lawyers are currently facing prosecution for corruption-related offences, in a development that underscores growing concerns about financial misconduct within Nigeria’s legal profession. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Friday while delivering the keynote address at the second annual lecture of the Body of Benchers in Abuja, an event attended by top figures in the legal sector. According to Olukoyede, investigations into members of the bar have uncovered offences ranging from diversion of clients’ funds to aiding money laundering. “Before I came here, I checked our…

The Indigenous People of Biafra has disclosed details of a ₦10m payment allegedly made to lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, as part of legal expenses related to the terrorism trial of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The group said the payment contradicts Ejiofor’s repeated claim that he represented Kanu on a pro bono basis. IPOB made the disclosure in a statement issued on Friday by the Head of its Finance Directorate, Madam Nnennaya Anya, who released what she described as transaction details to support the claim. According to Anya, the payment of ₦10m was transferred on August 13, 2021, to an account…

Controversial Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has spoken publicly for the first time since regaining his freedom, declaring that human beings are “more wicked than venomous snakes.” The actor made the statement in a viral music video released about three months after completing his prison sentence. Baba Ijesha had been released in November 2025 after serving a five-year jail term following his conviction over the sexual assault of a minor. The case, which generated nationwide outrage in 2021, stemmed from allegations by comedian and actress, Damilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, who accused the actor of…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a suit seeking the removal of former Senate President, David Mark, and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the case on the grounds that it concerned the internal affairs of a political party, which the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain. Delivering judgment, the judge held that issues relating to the leadership and membership of political parties are voluntary matters that should be resolved internally by the parties concerned. She maintained that political parties are voluntary associations…

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed allegations that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, forged his National Youth Service Corps certificate, saying investigations found no evidence to support the claim. The Force Headquarters said the allegation was subjected to a thorough investigation, which established that the certificate issued to the minister by the NYSC was genuine. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this while responding to inquiries on the matter. Hundeyin said the police engaged the National Youth Service Corps during the investigation and confirmed that the certificate in question was duly issued to Tunji-Ojo. He said,…

Human rights activist and co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls Movement, Aisha Yesufu, has described the forthcoming 2027 general elections as a “war,” saying Nigerians must prepare for a decisive battle for the country’s future. Yesufu made the remark on Thursday during a live programme on Channels Television, where she spoke on the political climate ahead of the 2027 polls. According to her, the next election would be a defining moment for Nigeria, insisting that citizens who desire change must be ready to confront the challenges associated with the electoral process. “As we go into 2027, let me tell you, it’s a…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over the sum of N279 million recovered from a contractor to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Theatre Lagos. The anti-graft agency said the money was recovered following investigations into alleged contract fraud linked to projects at the cultural facility. EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the handover ceremony took place at the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi. Oyewale explained that the case originated from a petition submitted in 2009 by the former…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has disclosed that 30 deposit money banks have met the new minimum capital requirements under its ongoing banking sector recapitalisation programme, ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline. The apex bank said the exercise, which began in 2024, was aimed at strengthening the resilience and long-term capacity of Nigeria’s financial system. In a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, the CBN said the recapitalisation process had recorded steady progress across the banking industry. According to the statement, several banks have successfully boosted their capital base through fundraising channels…