Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Deborah Hundenu In a shocking revelation, former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has publicly admitted to rigging local council elections during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Okocha, who served as Chief of Staff under Amaechi’s leadership between 2007 and 2015, made the startling confession during a televised interview on Channels TV. Okocha’s admission has sparked widespread reactions, with many questioning the integrity of the political processes during Amaechi’s administration. Speaking on the programme, which SaharaReporters monitored on Thursday evening, Okocha stated that he actively participated in election rigging during the…

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has called for concerted efforts to combat Nigeria’s escalating food crisis. Speaking at the 2024 Annual Colloquium of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ogun State Chapter, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Kehinde emphasized the urgency of galvanizing both public and private sectors to address the growing challenges of food insecurity. At the event themed “Galvanizing Public and Private Stakeholders Toward Addressing Food Crisis in Nigeria: Public Relations as Key Driver,” Kehinde commended NIPR for spotlighting food security, asserting that Public Relations (PR)…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles, as well as imposing fines on motorists. The court ruled that such actions are unlawful and constitute a violation of fundamental rights. Justice Evelyn Maha, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, issued the order following a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Abubakar Marshal. Marshal, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit, argued that the VIO and other respondents had no legal authority to stop vehicles or punish motorists in such a manner.…

The Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), is set to embark on a $750 million World Bank-funded project to provide electricity for 17.5 million Nigerians. The REA’s Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, announced the upcoming initiative during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Thursday. The project, tagged the Distributed Renewable Energy Scaleup, is designed to expand electricity access in rural areas using renewable energy sources. Aliyu emphasized that the initiative, slated to begin in November, is among the most ambitious electrification projects globally. “For example, there’s a new project that we are starting next month called…

A former Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashodun Shonubi, has said he learnt that there were intrigues and politics in the naira redesign exercise carried out in 2022. Shonubi, then Deputy Governor (Operations) before his appointment as Acting CBN Governor, said the former Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, told him and others that there were intrigues and politics in the whole exercise. Shonubi, now retired, who is the Prosecution’s third witness, made this claim in reaction to a question from Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, at the resumed hearing in the trial of the ex-governor of…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted former Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku bail set at N150 million as he faces serious corruption charges. Ishaku, alongside Bello Yero, the former permanent secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, was arraigned on Monday on a 15-count charge including criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and the conversion of public funds. Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were presented in court. During a session on Thursday, their legal teams moved for bail applications. Prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs indicated he would not oppose…

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, has firmly denied allegations of political bias ahead of the upcoming governorship election. This follows a protest by a group of youths who stormed the Akure office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding her removal over claims of fraternising with the All Progressives Congress (APC). The protest, which took place in the state capital, saw the youths wielding placards accusing Babalola of secretly aligning with the ruling party. The demonstrators expressed concerns that her purported connections with APC members could compromise the integrity of the November 16 gubernatorial…

Two women have been arrested in connection with the illegal sale of a three-day-old baby in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State. The suspects, identified as Lauretta Akomen, 38, and Tessi Ikechukwu, were apprehended on Tuesday at Layout Junction, Jakpa Road, after a vigilant tricycle rider, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, raised an alarm. The incident occurred when the women chartered the Keke to take them to a location. According to reports, the rider became suspicious when, at PTI Junction, one of the women briefly left the tricycle to collect a newborn baby from someone who crossed the road.…

The Educational Journey: 6 years of Primary Education – First School Leaving Certificate *L 9 years of Secondary School Education – SSCE 3 years of 1st Tertiary Education – National Diploma Certificate 4 years of 2nd Tertiary Education – First Degree (B.A.) 2 years of 3rd Tertiary Education – Master of Science (M.Sc.) 8 years of 4th Tertiary Education – Ph.D. X year(s) of my next Education – TBD I have used a combined 32 years of my life in formal education in order to acquire the final degree of Ph.D. *SPIRITUAL DISINFORMATION NEARLY DERAILED MY Ph.D. SOJOURN* Spiritual Disinformation…

MediaFuse-Dentsu, a leading powerhouse in Nigeria’s marketing communications industry, has solidified its dominance at the 2024 Marketing Edge Awards, clinching six major awards in recognition of its excellence and innovation. The prestigious awards were presented during the National Marketing Stakeholders Summit and Awards hosted by Marketing Edge Magazine in Lagos over the weekend. Topping the list of winners from MediaFuse-Dentsu was Group Chief Executive Officer Emeka Chris Okeke, who was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Media Advertising. This accolade recognized his enduring contributions to the growth and advancement of the advertising industry in Nigeria, cementing his legacy as…