Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Tragedy struck in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State on Thursday as a Junior Secondary School 3 student reportedly beat his teacher to death during a confrontation over a confiscated school cap. The suspect, identified as 16-year-old Friday Ogamude, a student of UBE Oju Centre, allegedly attacked his teacher, Mr. Oyibe Oyibe, aged 35, during an argument that turned violent. Sources said the confrontation was sparked by a cap the teacher had seized from the student since May 2025. Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the incident, noted that the altercation escalated rapidly, with the student allegedly striking the…

Former presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, has admitted to fabricating the controversial 2017 story about rats invading President Muhammadu Buhari’s office in the Aso Rock Villa, revealing that the narrative was intentionally crafted to divert public attention from the president’s failing health. Shehu made the revelation in his newly released book, According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience, where he recounted key moments during his time as the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former President Buhari. In Chapter 10 of the book, titled “Rats, Spin and All That,” Shehu disclosed that the infamous rat invasion…

Over 200 residents of Adehun community in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State have benefited from a free medical outreach organised by Great Standard Montessori Model School, Abeokuta. The outreach, held on Friday, was part of the school’s ongoing humanitarian initiative to promote health awareness and provide essential medical care to underserved members of the community. Speaking during the event, the proprietress of the school, Mrs. Nofisat Akingbade, said the programme, which began in 2023, was designed not only to meet the medical needs of residents but also to instil values of empathy and social responsibility in the…

The Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Mokhtar Bounour, has called for stronger collaboration, innovative solutions, and policy support to accelerate sustainable development in Nigeria’s electricity sector. Bounour made the call while speaking at the Shell Power Conference 2025 held in Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme “Powering Nigeria’s Energy Future: Bridging the Gap Between Ambition and Action.” Addressing a gathering of key stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders, Bounour emphasised that Nigeria’s energy future depends on unified efforts and bold action to overcome persistent challenges in power generation and distribution. “While compliance with health and safety standards is paramount,…

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, once again stirred public conversation after a video surfaced showing him serving food at a community gathering in Umuchima, Imo State. In the widely circulated clip, Obi was seen carrying trays and personally dishing out food to guests, drawing applause from attendees and social media users who hailed his simplicity and humility. Dressed modestly and arriving without the usual fanfare, Obi mingled freely with community members and local leaders present at the event. The scene, which many described as a rare display of humility among Nigerian political…

Daud Olatunji The House of Representatives has raised the alarm over the failure of two Chinese companies operating in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector to remit over ₦15 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) to the Federal Government. Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Jonathan Gaza, made the disclosure on Friday in Abuja during a ministerial retreat organised by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development for its senior officials. Although Gaza withheld the names of the firms, he described their actions as not only illegal but deeply troubling, especially at a time when the government is striving to…

… Says ‘We Won’t Be A Dumping Ground The Federal Government has alleged that the recent reduction in U.S. visa validity for Nigerians may be connected to Nigeria’s refusal to accept deported Venezuelan prisoners and illegal immigrants from the United States. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, made this disclosure during an interview on a private  Television on Thursday, claiming that the United States, under the administration of former President Donald Trump, had mounted sustained pressure on African nations, including Nigeria, to receive Venezuelans being deported — some of them former inmates. “The U.S is mounting considerable pressure on African…

The Plateau State Police Command has arraigned 22 suspects in connection with the gruesome killing of wedding-bound travellers in Mangun community, Mangu Local Government Area of the state. The arraignment took place on Thursday at the State High Court in Jos, following the deadly attack that left 13 passengers dead and several others injured. The victims, who were mostly family members and friends, were on their way from Basawa in Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State to attend a wedding ceremony in Qua’an Pan LGA when they were ambushed and attacked by suspected mobs. The travellers, including men,…

A United States District Court has sentenced a 43-year-old Nigerian, Abiola Femi Quadri, to 11 years and three months in federal prison for orchestrating a massive COVID-19 benefits fraud scheme that defrauded California and Nevada of over $1.3 million. Quadri, a resident of Pasadena in the San Gabriel Valley, was sentenced on Thursday by Judge George H. Wu, who also ordered him to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine. Court documents revealed that Quadri submitted more than 100 fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment and disability insurance using stolen identities. He allegedly used proceeds from the scheme to fund…

Over 254,000 electricity consumers lodged complaints against Distribution Companies (DisCos) across Nigeria in the first quarter of 2025, with issues ranging from faulty meters to estimated billing and persistent power outages, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The commission’s Q1 report revealed that between January and March 2025, a total of 254,404 complaints were received, a slight reduction of 7.72 percent compared to the 275,681 complaints recorded in Q4 2024. A breakdown of the complaints shows that metering (42.84%), billing issues (12.27%), and service interruptions (7.66%) topped the chart, jointly accounting for more than 62 percent of all…