Author: Platform Times Newspaper

One of the victims of the March 21 kidnapping incident in Mpape, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has refuted claims by the FCT Police Command that security operatives rescued them, insisting that their freedom came only after a ₦2.5 million ransom was paid. The victim, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, stated that neither the police nor any security agency played a role in their release. “We were not rescued by the police or any security agency; I didn’t see any security personnel at all,” he said. The victim’s testimony directly contradicts a statement by the FCT…

The Lagos State Police Command has detained three of its officers for allegedly extorting N150,000 from a 21-year-old traveller, Ramadan Adenola, during a stop-and-search operation under the Otedola Bridge. Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that the officers had been identified and taken into custody, while the extorted money had been recovered. “The Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, has ordered an immediate investigation and disciplinary action against the erring officers,” Hundeyin said. Narrating his experience, Adenola said he was travelling to Ife after a business trip in Lagos when he and a…

There are strong indications that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, may challenge the legality of the recently established Sharia panel in Oyo town by dragging its proponents to court. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, gave the hint on Monday while responding to inquiries from The PUNCH about the panel’s operations. According to Olanrewaju, the state government will take legal action if the establishment of the panel is deemed unconstitutional. “The governor was very clear on this matter from the outset. If it is a constitutional issue, then we must refer to the Constitution. Does the Constitution allow…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested two women, Adeoti Folake and Adewuyi Modupe, for allegedly hawking naira notes in Lagos. The suspects were apprehended on Friday, March 21, 2025, as part of the agency’s ongoing crackdown on naira abuse. Upon their arrest, the EFCC recovered a total of N5.4 million, with Folake found in possession of N3.85 million, while N1.6 million was seized from Modupe. The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement on Monday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, who confirmed that the suspects would face prosecution after investigations. “The suspects,…

A truck loaded with food items meant for Ramadan ‘Iftar’ distribution in northern Nigeria was hijacked and looted in Gombe State, the police have confirmed. The consignment, donated by Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, contained cartons of oil and sugar meant for fasting Muslims. However, the distribution turned chaotic after residents panicked upon seeing the initial offloading at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat and questioned where the remaining items were being taken. Spokesperson of the Gombe State Police Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, told Arewa PUNCH on Monday that the truck was attacked due to a lack of…

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute individuals and organizations illegally printing and selling unauthorized National Identification Number (NIN) cards. The Commission, in a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, on Monday, reaffirmed that the NIN slip remains the only legally recognized document for identification in Nigeria, pending the launch of its General Multipurpose Card (GMPC). NIMC warned that cyber cafes and fraudsters have been exploiting Nigerians by issuing fake NIN cards for exorbitant fees, misleading the public into believing they hold official identification. The Commission emphasized that no…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 133 individuals linked to a suspected Ponzi scheme academy operating in Abuja. The suspects were arrested on Monday at Compensation Layout in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, following intelligence on the illicit activities of the academy. In a statement issued on March 24, the anti-graft agency revealed that the academy, identified as Q University, also known as Q-Net, was allegedly engaged in recruiting and brainwashing young Nigerians with promises of unrealistic financial returns. According to the EFCC, the scheme enrolled individuals in a deceptive program tagged “Special Training for New Generation Billionaires,”…

Two Nigerians, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, alongside four others, have been indicted by U.S. authorities for their alleged involvement in a $50 million COVID-19 fraud scheme. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uncovered the fraud, which reportedly involved stealing government-issued checks meant for pandemic relief, tax refunds, and benefits for veterans and the elderly. According to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice, the suspects, all based in the United States, face up to 62 years in prison if convicted. The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew…

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) says five out of the 12 inmates who escaped from custody at the medium-security custodial centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi, have been recaptured. According to a statement issued on Monday, Abubakar Umar, the service public relations officer (SPRO), said the NCoS launched a manhunt for the escapees immediately after the incident. Kingsley Fanwo, the Kogi state commissioner for information, said about 12 inmates escaped during an early morning prison break on Monday. Umar said Sylvester Nwakuche, the acting controller-general of NCoS, in collaboration with heads of sister security agencies, including the senior special adviser to…

Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, has condemned individuals opposing his reinstatement, declaring that divine punishment would befall those inciting unrest in the state. Speaking at a special Iftar at his palace on Sunday, Sanusi urged Kano residents to maintain peace and respect the law, emphasizing that his return to the throne was an act of God. “We urge everyone to maintain peace. This issue is beyond us; it is about God’s will, and He needs no one’s assistance,” he said in Hausa in a video seen by PLATFORM. The emir, however, did not hold back in his response…