Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday raided properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, taking over his residences and offices in an operation his camp has described as unlawful and politically motivated. The development reportedly occurred shortly after a visit by former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to Malami’s residence, although there was no official confirmation linking both events. In a statement issued by Malami’s Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, the former AGF’s office accused the anti-graft agency of acting without legal backing and in disregard of an ongoing court process. The statement…

A Magistrate Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday granted bail to a man, Olalekan, standing trial over the alleged death of a female National Youth Service Corps member linked to an unsafe abortion. The prosecution had told the court that the defendant impregnated the deceased and allegedly attempted to terminate the pregnancy by procuring abortion drugs for her. According to the prosecutor, the drugs administered to the victim reportedly led to her death. The defendant was subsequently arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy and related offences, said to be contrary to Sections 516 and 230 of the Criminal…

… Dangote, NECA, NLC, LCCI Warn Of Worsening Economic Hardship …Petrol Hits Record Highs As Global Crisis Fuels Inflation Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s economy is under renewed strain as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to trigger global oil price volatility, with stakeholders warning of imminent business closures, job losses and worsening living conditions across the country. The warning came amid fresh concerns from business leaders and labour groups, as rising fuel costs and inflation bite harder on households and enterprises already grappling with economic pressures. President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, cautioned that if the crisis persists, Nigeria and…

There is palpable tension within the Federal Executive Council following a directive by President Bola Tinubu mandating political appointees nursing elective ambitions to resign on or before March 31, in compliance with the Electoral Act. Multiple sources within the Presidency said  that the development has unsettled several ministers and top aides, many of whom are reportedly eyeing governorship and legislative positions ahead of the 2027 general elections. Findings revealed that the President has also declined requests for private meetings from some of the appointees seeking his endorsement before stepping down from their current roles. The move, insiders said, is part…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, played a pivotal role in ensuring the emergence of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the embattled politician deserves better treatment while in detention. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights group said El-Rufai was instrumental in mobilising northern political support that helped secure Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. MURIC maintained that its advocacy for a southern presidency, particularly a Yoruba Muslim candidate, informed its engagement with key political actors ahead…

Daud Olatunji BudgIT, a civic technology organisation, has raised concerns over widespread opacity in Nigeria’s local government financial management, revealing that only 10 states currently provide publicly accessible budgets for their local government areas (LGAs). The organisation disclosed this in a report titled “The Missing Tier: Mapping Local Government Budget Transparency in Nigeria,” noting that six states publish partial or outdated LGA budget information, while 18 states do not publish any at all. According to BudgIT, despite local government finances being drawn from statutory allocations in the federation account, most of the 774 LGAs in the country still operate without…

…Says Middle East Crisis Could Worsen Fuel, Transport Costs …Tasks Govs With Implementing Citizen-Focused Interventions Daud Olatunji President Bola Tinubu has warned state governors that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could trigger a fresh wave of inflation in Nigeria, urging them to roll out additional incentives to cushion the impact on citizens. Tinubu gave the warning on Sunday while hosting Vice-President Kashim Shettima and 23 state governors at his Lagos residence during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. The President said escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran were already posing risks to global energy prices, with potential ripple…

No fewer than nine aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party have stepped forward in the race to succeed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, ahead of the 2027 governorship election, as a high-level advisory council begins consultations to shape the party’s choice. It was gathered  that the council, chaired by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bolaji Ayorinde, has commenced a series of engagements with aspirants in what insiders described as a strategic move to ensure transparency and inclusiveness in the emergence of the party’s flag bearer. The initiative, backed by Makinde, is aimed at giving all interested contenders a level playing field…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has formally submitted its position on the proposed establishment of state police to the National Security Adviser, paving the way for legislative consideration by the National Assembly. The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos. He said the document, developed in collaboration with key security stakeholders, would form part of the framework to guide the creation of state police across the country. AbdulRazaq noted that deliberations on the initiative were being coordinated by the National Security Adviser,…

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested two suspected informants linked to the terrorist group Boko Haram in Borno State. The suspects were apprehended in the Mainok area of Kaga Local Government Area during an early morning operation on March 18, 2026, following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected collaborators within the community. Security sources said that the troops, drawn from the 156 Task Force Battalion, acted swiftly on information provided by local informants, leading to the arrest of the two civilians at about 3am. “During the operation, two civilians suspected to be informants for Boko Haram were apprehended,”…