Author: Platform Times Newspaper

…Cites Voting Strength, Historical Imbalance in Ifo/Ewekoro Constituency Daud Olatunji The Ifo Progressive Indigenes Forum has called on the All Progressives Congress to zone its House of Representatives ticket for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency to Ifo Local Government Area ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group, in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Thursday, warned that the current pattern of representation in the constituency had remained “lopsided” in favour of Ewekoro Local Government Area since 1999. The statement was jointly signed by the forum’s Chairman, Abdul Oladosu, and Secretary, Kehinde Egbeyemi. The group said the debate ahead of the…

… Immigration Deploys Digital System To Trace Defaulters … Says Visa Defaulters  Face Arrest  Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has declared that it now has the technological capability to identify and arrest foreigners who overstay their visas in Nigeria, in what officials describe as a major step toward strengthening immigration control and border security. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Thursday during the 2026 Sectoral Performance Review Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Interior in Abuja. Tunji-Ojo said the government could now track the movement and visa status of foreigners who entered Nigeria within the last 10…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that a lawyer linked to the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, was arrested with more than $2 million allegedly belonging to the former apex bank chief. An EFCC investigator, David Jaiyeoba, disclosed this while testifying as the 12th prosecution witness in the ongoing corruption trial of Emefiele before Justice Hamza Muazu. Emefiele is standing trial on 20 amended counts bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, forgery, procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence during his tenure…

Zainab Abioye The Body of Benchers has sanctioned no fewer than 17 lawyers for professional misconduct, handing down penalties ranging from two to five years’ suspension from legal practice. The sanctions were announced during the second annual lecture of the Body of Benchers held in Abuja, where the report of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for the year 2025 was presented. The event drew top members of Nigeria’s legal community, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam…

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed four officers of the Nigeria Police Force over their alleged involvement in the killing of seven traders in the Owode-Onirin area of the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking with journalists at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ikeja. Jimoh said the officers were dismissed following an internal disciplinary process, adding that the command had made significant progress in the investigation of the incident. According to him, the dismissed officers were allegedly brought from Nasarawa State by a principal suspect identified simply as Ariori, who is…

Aishah Waliyullah Nigeria may record an improvement in its current account balance if global crude oil prices remain elevated, according to a new report by Bloomberg Economics. The report said Nigeria, Angola and Ghana are the only sub-Saharan African economies likely to benefit from the recent surge in oil prices triggered by the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. According to the analysis released on Thursday, higher oil prices could strengthen the external balances of the three oil-producing countries, while many other African economies may experience economic strain. Mhango, explained that if crude oil prices stabilise around…

The Kano State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and breach of public trust. The notice of impeachment was presented during plenary on Thursday by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action was in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Dala told lawmakers that the allegations stemmed from Gwarzo’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government between 2023 and 2024, as well as actions allegedly taken since he assumed office as deputy…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a 24-year-old palm kernel dealer, Ikechukwu, for allegedly abusing the Nigerian currency during his birthday celebration in Enugu State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the suspect was apprehended following the circulation of a viral video on social media in which he was seen spraying and mutilating naira notes while recording himself in a hotel room during the celebration. According to sources familiar with the development, the arrest was carried out on Saturday, February 28, 2026, after intelligence operatives traced the suspect’s identity and residence to the Timber Market area of Enugu-Ezike in Enugu…

The Iranian government has assured that Nigerians living in the country are safe despite escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered by the ongoing military standoff involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Iran’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mahdavi Raja, gave the assurance on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja, stating that there had been no reports of harm to Nigerian nationals residing in major Iranian cities. Raja said Nigerians living in cities such as Tehran and Qom had remained safe since the outbreak of hostilities, stressing that the Iranian government had prioritised the safety of all foreign residents. “The…

The senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party and defected to the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress. Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, announced his decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, citing what he described as “irreconcilable differences” within the PDP. The lawmaker said his new political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, would provide a credible opposition capable of strengthening Nigeria’s democratic system. According to him, the party’s registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission marks the beginning of a new political alternative for Nigerians seeking a stronger opposition. He…