Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reinstated the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, overturning an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court that nullified key aspects of the electoral timetable. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that the Federal High Court erred in law by invalidating the guidelines, describing the decision as one that occasioned a miscarriage of justice. The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, also ruled that the Youth Party lacked the legal…

The Senate on Thursday passed the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing a ₦50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen road safety and reduce traffic-related accidents across the country. The bill, which now awaits President Bola Tinubu’s assent, also introduces stiffer penalties for several traffic offences, including drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding and refusal to cooperate with officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps during roadside breath tests. Under the proposed legislation, any person found hawking, trading or preaching inside a commercial vehicle will, upon conviction,…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned the former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, over an alleged N15.6bn fraud. Ayeni was on Thursday re-arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on an amended 18-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of depositors’ funds. The former bank chairman pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Thursday’s proceedings marked the third time Ayeni has taken his plea in the case. He was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, before being re-arraigned on June 22…

Daud Olatunji Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected informant for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State, with the suspect allegedly confessing to guiding terrorists during a deadly attack on the community last month. The suspect was apprehended by troops of the 149 Battalion (Motorised), working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), during an intelligence-led operation in Gubio on July 14. According to security sources, the arrest followed actionable intelligence linking the suspect to terrorist activities in the area. During a preliminary interrogation, the suspect allegedly…

…Seeks Arewa support for APC ahead of 2027 The governorship candidate   of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as YAYI, has said the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu rescued Nigeria from economic collapse and laid the foundation for long-term growth. Adeola made the assertion on Tuesday while addressing leaders and stakeholders of the Arewa Community from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State during a courtesy visit to his constituency office in Ilaro, where the group pledged support for his governorship ambition. According to a statement, the senator commended…

Fawaz Adebisi Former Ogun State governorship aspirant and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for the Ogun Central Senatorial District, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, has declared an all-out political battle against Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, accusing him of betrayal, dishonesty and lacking integrity. Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Obasanjo said she had resolved to prove her political strength after what she described as Yayi’s failure to honour promises made to her following the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship concensus. “I’m on a war path to show who I am. My name and…

…Says N1bn nutrition intervention being undermined by illegal trade The Yobe State Government has raised the alarm over the alleged diversion of life-saving nutritional supplements meant for severely malnourished children, claiming that some of the products are being smuggled into neighbouring countries and used to fatten livestock. The state described the practice as a grave betrayal of public trust that is frustrating efforts to tackle child malnutrition and endangering the lives of vulnerable children. The Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Babagana Kundi Machina, made the allegation on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with…

Zainab Abioye The prime suspect in the killing of a Kano woman and her six children has told the Kano State High Court that he carried out the gruesome attack on the instruction of a herbalist. The suspect, Umar Auwalu, 23, made the confession on Wednesday while opening his defence before Justice Nasiru Saminu of High Court No. 11. Auwalu admitted killing his uncle’s daughter, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children, claiming he acted after a traditional healer identified simply as Thomas allegedly directed him to commit the crime. According to the defendant, the herbalist gave him incense and instructed…

…VC credits stable funding, industrial peace for rapid growth …Varsity Now Ranks 15th INTO ⁴Nigeria, 51st in Africa Daud Olatunji Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has recorded significant academic and institutional growth over the last four years, with student enrolment rising from 27,000 to 35,000 and the institution climbing into the ranks of Nigeria’s top 15 universities and the 51st best in Africa. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, attributed the achievements to sustained government support, prudent leadership, industrial harmony and strategic investments in academic programmes, research and technology. Agboola disclosed this while addressing journalists after the opening of a…

…40 million Tonnes Of Food Wasted Yearly …Poor Energy Supply, Lack Of Cold Storage Blamed Daud Olatunji Nigeria loses an estimated ₦3.5 trillion annually to post-harvest losses, with between 30 million and 40 million metric tonnes of food going to waste before reaching consumers, the Bank of Agriculture has disclosed. The bank attributed the huge losses to inadequate access to reliable electricity and the absence of cold-chain infrastructure, warning that the situation is worsening food inflation, reducing farmers’ incomes and undermining the country’s agricultural potential. The disclosure was made during a two-day workshop on the Clean Energy Access Framework (CEAF)…