Author: Platform Times Newspaper

No fewer than 13 criminal suspects, including alleged kidnappers and murderers, have escaped from police custody in Nasarawa State, sparking widespread concern over lapses in the security and justice system. The detainees reportedly broke out of the Area Command cell facility in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025, at about 6:30am, after successfully breaching the rear wall of the detention centre. The suspects were being held by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Units at the time of the jailbreak. Credible police sources confirmed the incident to Zagazola Makama on Sunday, revealing that the fugitives include several suspects…

Daud Olatunji A decade-long legal battle over the rightful authority to appoint the Baale (traditional head) of Olorunda community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State has been dismissed by the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta. In a judgment delivered by Justice O.O. Osunfisan, the court struck out both the main suit and the counter-claims for lacking legal merit and due to non-compliance with procedural requirements. The judge ruled that neither the claimants nor the counter-claimants could establish sufficient legal grounds for the reliefs sought. The suit, filed on April 29, 2013, was instituted by five…

Daud Olatunji  A constellation of dignitaries including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Shuaib Salis, former UK Ambassador Sarafa Isola, and a host of traditional leaders and eminent Nigerians gathered at the Abeokuta Club for an emotional evening of tributes in honour of the late Chief Olatunde Ayinla Abudu, CFR — the Mayegun of Egbaland, industrialist, philanthropist, and life president of the prestigious Abeokuta Club. The event, titled “An Evening of Tributes in Honour of Chief Olatunde Ayinla Abudu”, was held to commemorate the life and legacy of the foremost Egba statesman who passed away on June 9, 2025, at the…

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has urged Nigerians, especially Christians and the youth, to reject political apathy and actively participate in governance, stressing that meaningful change can only be achieved through direct political engagement. Speaking on Saturday at the second annual Daniel Taiwo Odukoya Memorial Lecture, held at The Fountain of Life Church, Lagos, Osinbajo declared that Nigerians must embrace politics as a moral and civic duty, not merely as a career path or a means to wealth. Delivering a keynote on the theme “The Evolving Relationship Between the Church and the Government in Nigeria,” the former…

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has urged President Bola Tinubu to order a thorough investigation into the unresolved assassinations of several notable Nigerians, including journalist Dele Giwa, former Attorney General Bola Ige, and pro-democracy icon Kudirat Abiola. Soyinka made the call on Saturday during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, warning that continued silence over these high-profile killings erodes public trust in the rule of law and democracy. He noted that some Nigerians, including those in the diaspora, possess critical information that could help uncover the truth behind the murders that have remained unsolved decades after they were committed.…

Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church and former presidential aspirant, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has denied speculations that his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu was motivated by personal interests. Bakare, who contested in the 2023 presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), met with President Tinubu at his Lagos residence on June 4. His visit stirred public reactions, with critics suggesting the meeting was aimed at securing personal benefits from the administration. Reacting during a sermon at his church, Bakare dismissed the insinuations, insisting he had never compromised his principles for political or material gain. “Some people…

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that his political setback is only temporary, affirming that “no king lasts forever” and expressing confidence that his “victory will return.” Fubara made the declaration during a public address in Bonny, Rivers State, where he reassured his supporters of eventual triumph, despite the political turbulence that has rocked the state since his fallout with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. In a speech laced with defiance and philosophical reflection, the embattled governor said his conscience is clear and that his actions are guided by integrity. “Everybody will…

The Federal Government has suspended its earlier plan to hold a three-day national prayer and fasting session aimed at seeking divine intervention for Nigeria’s worsening food crisis. The controversial initiative, proposed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was abruptly shelved following widespread backlash from the public, who accused the ministry of trivialising a serious national emergency. In an internal circular dated June 11, the ministry had invited senior officials—including directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, and value chain officers—to participate in spiritual gatherings scheduled for June 16, 23, and 30 at its Abuja headquarters. The memo, signed by…

Morenikeji Adebayo & Balqees Adeniji A total of ₦80,950,555,128.17 was disbursed to local government areas (LGAs) across six South-West states in Nigeria in April 2025, according to an investigation by PLATFORM TIMES. The allocations, sourced from verified BudgIT data, cover LGAs in Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti States, highlighting disparities in federal resource sharing across the region. Lagos Tops with ₦34.1bn; Ekiti Gets Least with ₦6.4bn Leading the chart, Lagos State’s 20 LGAs received a whopping ₦34,129,019,340.83, making it the highest recipient among the six states. At the opposite end, Ekiti’s 16 LGAs got the lowest combined allocation…

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the arrest of a Chinese national during a recent counter-terrorism operation in Borno State, raising fresh questions about foreign involvement in Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency. Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, disclosed the arrest at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. He said the foreigner, who claimed to be a miner, was picked up by troops of Operation Hadin Kai during a targeted sweep of terror hotspots in Kukawa and Ngala Local Government Areas. “The Chinese national has been detained and is currently undergoing intense interrogation,” Kangye stated, adding that investigations are…