Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that he handled cash deposits running into billions of naira on behalf of the ex-CBN chief. The witness, Richard Agulu, a former employee of Zenith Bank, made the disclosure while testifying as the third prosecution witness before Justice Yusuf Halilu during the continuation of Emefiele’s alleged N7.8bn fraud trial. Under cross-examination by Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), Agulu alleged that the cash was consistently delivered to him by Eric Ocheme, whom…

The Grand Chief Imam of Remoland, Sagamu, Alhaji Shehu Abdul Quadri Abiodun Jinadu, has been appointed as the new President of the League of Imams and Alfas (RABITAH), Ogun State, with stakeholders charging him to prioritise unity among Muslims and strengthen engagement with the government on issues affecting the Ummah. PLATFORM TIMES reports that Jinadu’s appointment followed the league’s long-standing rotational leadership arrangement, which ceded the presidency to the Remo Zone after the completion of the tenure of the immediate past leadership. His appointment was formally announced on Monday during a ceremony held at the Egba Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta,…

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to immediately halt the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members, arguing that granting amnesty and reintegrating former insurgents is unjustifiable amid worsening attacks on military personnel and civilians across the country. The resolution followed a heated debate on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday over the escalating insecurity in the country, particularly the recent abduction and death in captivity of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information. The call was adopted after lawmakers unanimously approved an additional prayer moved by Senator Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central) during the…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged false statements linked to the ex-governor’s hospital visit while standing trial. The anti-graft agency also accused El-Rufai of abusing the court-approved medical access granted to him by allegedly turning a scheduled medical consultation into a political meeting. ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the commission had facilitated El-Rufai’s request for medical attention at the National Hospital, Abuja, under strict security arrangements. According to the commission, its medical…

The Senate on Tuesday rejected calls by some lawmakers to nationalise South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria, including telecommunications giant MTN and pay-TV provider DStv, as retaliation for the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. Instead, the upper chamber directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate the latest wave of attacks and report its findings within two weeks, as lawmakers renewed demands for stronger diplomatic action to protect Nigerians living in the Southern African nation. The resolution followed a heated debate on a motion sponsored by the senator representing Cross River South, Asuquo Ekpenyong, who condemned the…

Three female worshippers abducted during an attack on an ECWA Church in Omugo, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have regained their freedom after spending 105 days in captivity. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the victims were rescued on Monday by a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, bringing an end to the months-long captivity of the remaining survivors. The women were among eight worshippers kidnapped when heavily armed men invaded the church during a Sunday service on March 22 and whisked congregants into a…

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit against Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), over allegations linking him to bribery and murder. Gbajabiamila, through his lawyer, Chief Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), issued the threat in a letter demanding that Adeyemi immediately retract the allegations, apologise publicly and remove all videos and publications containing the claims. The legal notice followed comments made by Adeyemi during a June 26 press conference, where he alleged that Gbajabiamila received N400 million through a…

Six suspects have been arrested after a mob allegedly lynched two travellers wrongly accused of being kidnappers in Gidan Kalu Village, Birnin Yero District of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The victims, identified as 45-year-old Muhammadu Sani and 40-year-old Aliyu Mohammed, both from Umar Village in Igabi LGA, were reportedly travelling on a motorcycle to Tudun Wada in Zaria on July 1 to visit their sick uncle when they met their tragic end. According to the Kaduna State Police Command, the men came under suspicion after residents noticed them riding a new motorcycle and raised an alarm, accusing…

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education has defended the inclusion of projects outside its core mandate in the 2026 budget, saying they are constituency projects assigned to it for implementation by the National Assembly. The clarification followed public scrutiny over budgetary provisions showing the commission earmarked to execute projects considered unrelated to its statutory responsibilities. In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Executive Secretary, Nura Muhammad, the commission said the projects formed part of the 2026 Appropriation Act and were allocated to it under the Federal…

Ayomide Awe The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, on Monday called for stronger collaboration between Muslim and Christian leaders to combat hate speech, fake news and other threats to peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. The religious leaders made the call during a meeting at the National Mosque, Abuja, where the Sultan received Archbishop Gallagher, who led a Papal delegation comprising Vatican officials and senior leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria. They…