Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Edo State House of Assembly Service Commission has voided the employment letters earlier issued to 324 candidates, describing the appointments as illegal and unauthorised. The commission announced the cancellation in a statement on Wednesday jointly signed by its chairman, Ezehi Igbas, and secretary, Isoken Nehi-Olotu. According to the statement, the job offers were issued without due approval, making them “unauthorised, illegal and unlawful,” and therefore “null, void and of no effect.” Although the commission did not disclose how the controversial appointments were processed, it said the decision to withdraw the letters was to protect the integrity of the Assembly…

A  Human Rights group, Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) France has revealed that no fewer than 82 Nigerian women are currently on death row across correctional centres in the Nigeria, describing the figure as one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. The organisation’s Country Director, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, disclosed this on Wednesday at a capacity-building workshop on Mainstreaming Gender Perspective in the Use of the Death Penalty, held in Abuja as part of activities marking the global 16 Days of Activism. Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said the women, many of whom are survivors of domestic abuse, have been “neglected, forgotten and repeatedly discriminated against” throughout…

The National Economic Council has approved ₦100 billion for the renovation and upgrade of training institutions belonging to the police and other security agencies across the country, PLATFORM TIMES reports. The approval, which is subject to final sign-off by President Bola Tinubu, was reached at NEC’s 154th virtual meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Council also endorsed an additional ₦2.6 billion for consultancy services connected to the rehabilitation project. The intervention follows the findings of an ad-hoc committee earlier set up to inspect and evaluate the state of security training facilities nationwide. Presenting the committee’s report,…

…Treat Doctors With Respect, Improve Welfare, NMA Tells Government Aishah Waliyullah & Friday Obiremi Health experts on Wednesday raised fresh alarms over Nigeria’s chronic underfunding of its health sector, warning that the nation’s over 230 million citizens could continue to suffer catastrophic outcomes unless government urgently scales up investment, partnerships and welfare for medical professionals. The warnings were issued by the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Bala Muhammad Audu, and the guest speaker and former Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, during the NMA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the June 12 Cultural…

A  former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher (retd.), has said that Nigeria remains a prime target for terrorist organisations because of its vast resources, regional influence and internal security vulnerabilities. General Musa while responding to some questions from lawmakers, lamented the persistent wave of kidnappings, school attacks, and banditry across the country. He warned that terrorists deliberately target Nigeria because they perceive the country as “rich and vulnerable.” Earlier,  a rowdy session erupted in the Senate on Wednesday as lawmakers fiercely resisted attempts to grant Musa, a “bow-and-go” treatment during his ministerial screening as Minister of Defence. The Senate…

Founder of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has vowed to personally help secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu — but only if agitators shut down Biafra Radio and end the sit-at-home directives crippling economic and social activities in the South-East. Maharaj Ji made the declaration during an interview on his temple’s in-house radio on Wednesday, warning that Kanu’s release would only be possible through “political settlement” and not agitation. According to him, the IPOB leader was “lucky” to have escaped a death sentence despite being convicted on seven…

The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, Muhammad Baba Azare, has ordered the immediate arrest of any police personnel found escorting private individuals, politicians or VIPs without formal approval from the Force Headquarters. Azare issued the directive on Tuesday in Uyo after a strategic meeting with senior officers of the command, where he rolled out new measures aimed at tightening internal discipline and safeguarding public peace. The CP expressed worry over what he described as a “growing disregard” for the Inspector-General of Police’s standing order prohibiting officers from providing unauthorised escort services. “Any officer caught escorting persons not duly…

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and convener of the Ogun West Initiative,  Bolaji Adeniji, on Wednesday cautioned political actors in Ogun State against what he described as “deliberate attempts to sow discord” ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Addressing journalists in Abeokuta, Adeniji said the political atmosphere was becoming “needlessly toxic,” adding that certain developments must be properly examined “before they are lost in the noise of early electioneering.” He commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for maintaining “stability and internal cohesion” within the ruling APC, stressing that the governor’s synergy with Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (YAYI) had brought what he…

Daud Olatunji The Aare Mayegun of Owu Kingdom and convener of the Ajiboshin Platform, Prince Kazeem Adeyanju Olanrewaju Bakinson, has debunked reports linking him to the 2027 Ogun Central Senatorial race, insisting that he has not declared any ambition to contest. Bakinson, who serves in the Lagos State Government, told journalists at the Owu Club in Abeokuta at the weekend that he is still in wide consultations and remains committed to his current role. He described the social-media reports suggesting that he had finalised plans to run as premature and unfounded, stressing that he would not take such a major…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday told the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, that statements made by the second defendant, Henry Omoile, in the ongoing $4.5bn fraud trial involving former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, were voluntarily given and not obtained under any form of intimidation. Emefiele is facing 19 counts bordering on gratification, corrupt practices and abuse of office, while Omoile is standing trial on a three-count charge involving alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Testifying in a trial-within-trial, prosecution witness and EFCC operative, Alvan Gurumnaan, maintained that the…