Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has sparked controversy with his claim that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is building business centres rather than religious institutions. Falana made the statement during an interview with Sahara TV, where he criticized the increasing commercialisation of religion in Nigeria. He urged Nigerians to differentiate between true spirituality and what he described as mere religiosity. According to Falana, Pastor Adeboye’s recent remark about opening more churches to ensure accessibility within walking distances for congregants is indicative of turning the church into a business enterprise rather…

The Directorate of State Services (DSS) has detained Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, forty eight hours after the conduct of controversial local government election in the state . PLATFORM TIMES reports that Adebutu was detained over sundry allegations, including alleged violence during the just-concluded local government elections in the state. Adebutu reportedly honoured an invitation by the DSS but was subsequently detained on Monday, raising concerns within the PDP and its supporters. The local government elections, held on Saturday across Ogun State’s 20 local government areas and 236 wards,…

The Edo House of Assembly on Monday,  approved the Revised Supplementary Budget of N485.6 billion for 2024 Governor Monday Okpebholo, on November 13, in a letter, requested the parliament to consider and pass the Revised Supplementary Budget for the continuous development of Edo. The motion to dissolve the parliament into a committee of supply to consider the budget was moved by the majority leader of the parliament, Charity Aiguobaruehian and seconded by the minority leader, Eric Okaka. At the committee of supply, the parliament considered and passed the budget estimates. The Revised Supplementary Bill of N485.6 billion had N283.1 billion…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the Visitor to Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, to urgently address what it described as a “mockery of the university system” following the controversial appointment of a Vice-Chancellor and Registrar at the institution. In a statement issued on Sunday, November 17, 2024, by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU expressed grave concern over what it termed “illegalities and procedural violations” in the appointment of Dr. Benard Odoh as Vice-Chancellor and Mrs. Rosemary Ifeoma Nwokike as Registrar by the university’s Governing Council, led by…

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Hamid Bobboyi, has revealed that 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory are yet to access the 2024 Universal Basic Education matching grant. Bobboyi disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the Senate Committee on Education’s (Basic and Secondary) oversight visit to the commission. He noted that only Katsina and Kaduna states had accessed their first and second quarters of the 2024 matching grant. Providing details of matching grants accessed between 2020 and 2024, Bobboyi said unaccessed UBE grants remain a significant challenge for basic and junior secondary education. “For the…

A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the remand of Mr. Abiodun Sanni, a former manager at a second-generation bank, over allegations of fraud amounting to N15,011,441. Justice Abike-Fadipe gave the ruling on Monday, directing that Sanni be detained in a custodial centre pending the perfection of his bail application. The defendant was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining credit by false pretences, forgery, use of false documents, and stealing. According to the EFCC, Sanni, while serving as a bank manager, fraudulently facilitated a loan of…

An Upper Shari’a Court sitting at Kofar Kudu, Kano State, has exonerated Auwal Danladi Sankara, Jigawa State Commissioner of Special Duties, of adultery allegations involving a married woman. The case was filed by Nasiru Buba, who accused Sankara of having an illicit relationship with his wife, Tasleem Baba Nabegu. However, the presiding judge, Ibrahim Sarki Yola, dismissed the case after an investigation by the Assistant Inspector General of Police found no evidence to support the allegations. Delivering his judgment, Sarki Yola emphasized the importance of thorough investigations by law enforcement and regulatory bodies, including the Hisbah Commission, particularly in cases…

Nigeria must establish at least 800 universities to cater to its burgeoning population and address the country’s growing demand for higher education, a geography professor at Kaduna State University (KASU), Professor John Laah, has stated. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Laah highlighted the urgent need for more universities as the country faces challenges of insufficient access to tertiary education. He emphasized that with Nigeria projected to become the third most populous country globally by 2050, expanding the nation’s educational infrastructure is non-negotiable. According to Laah, Nigeria’s existing universities are grossly inadequate to accommodate the increasing number of qualified applicants. “I…

At least five people have been killed in a series of attacks by gunmen in three Anambra State communities enforcing a previously abolished sit-at-home order. The attacks, which occurred on Monday morning, targeted the Abatete, Abagana, and Ukpo communities, leaving residents in shock and panic. Sources revealed that the gunmen, suspected to be enforcing the sit-at-home order initially declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), struck between 8 am and 10 am. The assailants also set vehicles ablaze and warned residents to observe the banned directive. The attacks reportedly claimed the lives of vigilante personnel and civilians, with…

Most times beyond what we read in the media about agencies of governments; we should pay attention to data and ask questions about the economy. Even though, few of the tax collectors and Custom Officers may not be professional but FIRS and Customs stands out in Nigeria as Agencies of lifeblood and lifeline. 1. From ancient times, Tax collectors are looked at as corrupt people, whereas they are the lifeline and lifeblood of the economy. 2. They take risk to pursue people and collect tax from them. 3. In Yoruba Language, we say Gentleness does not take palm kernel seed…