Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited (CCNL) against the N186 million penalty imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) over alleged misleading trade descriptions and unfair marketing practices. The tribunal’s three-member panel, led by Justice Thomas Okosu, deferred its ruling on the matter on March 18, 2025, after hearing arguments from both parties. The appeal by CCNL’s sister company, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), was also reserved for judgment. The FCCPC had accused Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd and NBC of violating Section 116(3) of the Federal Competition…

The Federal Government has released the withheld allocations of Rivers State, barely 24 hours after Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.) assumed office as the state’s Sole Administrator. Iba had taken over the government on Thursday, after he was sworn in by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), at a State House press briefing on Thursday, disclosed the release of the fund to the sole administrator of the state. Ibas, while addressing Heads of Local Government Administrators in Port Harcourt on Friday, confirmed the release of…

Feyisara Ogunbiyi The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has publicly apologised to the Federal High Court, Justice Binta Nyako, and lead prosecutor, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, over his misconduct during the previous proceedings in his ongoing terrorism trial. Kanu, in an emotional plea delivered on his behalf by his lead counsel and former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, SAN, begged for forgiveness and vowed to maintain decorum throughout the remainder of his trial. In the prepared statement, Kanu acknowledged that his outburst in court was inappropriate and expressed deep regret for…

The management of the Lagos State General Hospital, Agege, has admitted issuing query letters to some of its nurses after they complained about a faulty air conditioning unit in their workplace. The development, which sparked controversy, involved nurses working in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit, who had reportedly endured difficult working conditions due to poor ventilation. A source privy to the situation hinted that the nurses’ workspace was congested and lacked proper ventilation, making a functional air conditioning system essential. “We have a problem with a conducive working environment at the hospital, particularly for the nurses attached to the…

Ayomide Awe The Lagos zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has prosecuted and secured the conviction of Hammed Saka for the illegal hawking of new Nigerian currency notes. The judgement was delivered by Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on March 19, 2025. Saka was found guilty of contravening Section 21(4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, for trading an amount totaling N800,000 in new currency notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The offence took place at the Villa Dome Event Centre on Okotie-Eboh Street, Ikoyi, Lagos,…

The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency has raised concerns over the growing menace of sextortion gangs from Nigeria and other West African countries targeting British teenage boys. The agency revealed that Nigerian criminal syndicates, disguising themselves as young women, were blackmailing British teenagers as young as 14 on social media platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. PLATFORM TIMES reports that a report by UK-based Leading British Conversation, indicated that these gangs, including those from Ivory Coast, threaten to expose explicit images of their victims to their friends, family, and classmates unless they comply with financial demands. Marie Smith, a senior…

Daud Olatunji The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the Federal Government released over 4,000 inmates in a single day with the aim of decongesting Nigeria’s correctional facilities. The minister disclosed this on Thursday,during the 5th Ministerial Press Briefing held in Abuja. Tunji-Ojo said the gesture, not only addressed overcrowding but also resulted in substantial cost savings for the government. Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the mass release, which constituted a five percent reduction in correctional center populations, primarily targeted detainees held for minor fines. He added that when conducting a detailed analysis of cases, authorities identified numerous individuals whose…

Nigeria secured the 105 ranking out of 147 nations in the 2025 World Happiness Report unveiled Thursday as the world observes the International Day of Happiness. The report showed that Nigeria dropped three spots from its 2024 ranking of 102 but has moved higher to become the 10th happiest country in Africa. Libya emerged as the highest-ranked nation in Africa, securing 79 on the standing, surpassing its neighbours in life satisfaction and societal well-being amidst a landscape of ongoing challenges. Finland continued its streak as the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, with other Nordic nations like Denmark,…

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the National Assembly’s approval of emergency rule in Rivers State, warning that the decision sets a dangerous precedent for democracy in Nigeria. Obi, in a series of posts on his X handle on Thursday, criticized the lawmakers’ voice vote approval of President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation, arguing that it breaches the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and erodes public trust in governance. The former Anambra State governor had earlier joined opposition leaders in urging the National Assembly to reject what he termed the “unconstitutional removal” of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and…

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that Corps Members will begin receiving a monthly allowance of ₦77,000 starting from March 2025. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the assurance was reaffirmed by the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, during an interactive session held at the Wuse and Garki NYSC Zonal Offices in Abuja. Addressing Corps Members’ concerns over the delayed implementation of the allowance increase, Brigadier General Nafiu assured them of the NYSC’s efficiency in record-keeping and timely payment processes. He expressed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Corps Members, emphasizing that the long-awaited…