Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited has said it will challenge the recent ruling of the Federal High Court ordering the forfeiture of some of its assets, insisting that neither the company nor its leadership was found guilty of any wrongdoing. The firm disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Company Secretary, Barrister Nnenna Onyeaso, who described the judgment as a civil asset forfeiture order based on suspicion rather than proof. According to Onyeaso, the court’s decision did not establish any criminal liability against the company, stressing that the ruling fell short of indicting Oceangate or its…

A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina on Thursday sentenced a young man, Ibrahim Abdulaziz, to three years’ imprisonment for impersonating a candidate during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. The examination is conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. Trial judge, Hussaini Dadan-Garba, convicted Abdulaziz after finding him guilty of examination malpractice, stressing that the custodial sentence, handed down without an option of fine, would serve as a deterrent to others. However, the court discharged and acquitted the actual UTME candidate, Bolanwu Emmanuel, who had been standing trial alongside the convict. Earlier, the prosecution, led by the Police Officer-…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to bridging the digital divide in underserved communities, with a special focus on Plateau State. This was disclosed by Ms. Rimini Makama, NCC’s Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, during a courtesy visit to Gov. Caleb Mutfwang at the Government House, Jos, on Monday. Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Ms. Makama described Plateau as a “strategic and indispensable partner” in Nigeria’s national broadband agenda, citing the state’s strong educational institutions, vibrant innovation hubs, youthful population, and policies supportive of digital transformation. “We recognize Plateau State not just ceremonially, but strategically,” she…

The police in Akwa Ibom State have arrested Chief Edet, the village head of Asik Ubofa Fishing Settlement in Effiat Clan, Mbo Local Government Area, for alleged illegal possession of firearms. A statement by the State Police Command’s spokesperson, Timfon John, confirmed that operatives acting on intelligence swooped on the suspect on March 24, 2026, at about 10:15 a.m., recovering an AK-47 rifle and two empty magazines. “Detectives carried out the operation without any incident and arrested the suspect on the spot,” John said. “He is now in police custody as investigations continue to trace the source of the firearm,…

 A High Court sitting in Akure has sentenced 21-year-old Emmanuel Akpan to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his employer, Mrs. Febisola Adedayo, a food vendor, at her residence in Ifankanbale Street, Sabo, Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area. Delivering judgment on Wednesday in Charge No: AK/57C/2022, Justice Rotimi Olamide ruled that the prosecution had proved Akpan’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt on counts of conspiracy to commit murder and murder, under Sections 324, 316, and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ondo State, 2006. The court heard that on March 29, 2021, Akpan, alongside…

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports that it has endorsed a gubernatorial candidate ahead of the 2027 elections. The clarification was made in a statement released yesterday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, who described the rumours as “baseless and misleading.” The false reports suggested that party leaders had convened in Abuja and Lagos to select candidates for Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun states. Sadare, however, urged party members and the public to disregard the claims. He emphasised that the APC will adhere strictly to its internal rules and electoral guidelines in choosing…

A recent report by Piggyvest has revealed that nearly six in ten Nigerians earn less than N100,000 a month or have no income at all, highlighting widening income inequality and the growing financial pressures facing households across the country. The Piggyvest Savings Report 2025, obtained by PLATFORM TIMES, shows that only 6 percent of Nigerians feel financially secure, reflecting a stark disconnect between government economic reforms and the realities on the ground. “On paper, the economy is stabilising… On the ground, however, the strain hasn’t let up,” the report noted. “Across income, savings, spending, debt, and financial satisfaction, Nigerians are…

…Nigerians, Pakistanis, Mexicans Affected ….. Police use rubber bullets , Teargas To Restore Order Tensions erupted in Durban on Wednesday as South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding tougher action against foreigners, including Nigerians, amid fears of job losses and rising crime. The demonstration, organised by the xenophobic vigilante group Operation Dudula in collaboration with the March and March Movement, saw crowds march through the city streets, waving placards and chanting anti-immigrant slogans. Protesters singled out Nigerians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Mexicans, and other foreign nationals, accusing them of taking jobs from locals and fueling…

Hundreds of informal sector workers, including market women, mechanics, artisans and traders, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly Complex, demanding urgent government intervention on pensions, healthcare and social protection. The protesters, under the aegis of the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria, said the Federal Government must prioritise the welfare of millions of Nigerians operating outside the formal employment structure. Addressing journalists during the protest, FIWON General Secretary, Gbenga Komolafe, lamented that despite contributing significantly to the nation’s economy, informal workers remained largely excluded from key social protection schemes. He noted that the sector accounts…

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has said that key political figures who contributed to the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 are now poised to align with the party to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Momodu, who spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Arise News Morning Show, said the bloc includes prominent politicians such as former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; ex-Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; and former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal. He described the group as a strategic force capable of influencing the…