Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the conviction of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Robert Orya, over a N2.4bn fraud case. The appellate court affirmed the conviction and sentence imposed on Orya by the Federal Capital Territory High Court on all 49 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The EFCC disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday. Orya was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on each of the 49 counts, bringing the total sentence to 490 years. The sentences, however, were ordered to run concurrently. The former NEXIM…

By Dr. John Adenekan There are many ways to measure the legacy of a leader; through physical infrastructure, economic policies, or legislative achievements. Yet, the most enduring measure remains the human dimension: the number of lives meaningfully improved through intentional compassion. For Otunba Gbenga Daniel, this commitment has been embodied for over two decades by the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF). Established around the turn of the millennium, GFF has provided succour to the vulnerable, created opportunities for the disadvantaged, and empowered ordinary citizens toward self-reliance. As GFF prepares to partner with Sharing Hope Medical Mission (USA), Sharing Hope and Care…

..Challenges VCs To Woo Alumni, Philanthropists, Businesses, Research Funders …. Universities Told To Overhaul Alumni Databases As FG Plans New Financing Dramework Daud Olatunji The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that only four of Nigeria’s 68 federal universities are effectively exploiting alternative sources of funding, warning that institutions relying heavily on government allocations risk stagnating. Alausa said universities must urgently diversify their funding sources by pursuing research grants, endowments, alumni donations, philanthropy and partnerships with the private sector. He described the low level of resource mobilisation among the institutions as unacceptable, stressing that government funding alone could…

An 87-year-old man, Dahiru Garba, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Yola, Adamawa State, for allegedly attacking an Area Court judge with a cutlass. Garba, a resident of Korawa Village in Fufore Local Government Area, allegedly attacked the presiding judge of Mayo-Ine Area Court, Dauda Hamman, during court proceedings on August 31, 2026. The Adamawa State Police Command said the incident occurred while the judge was handling a case involving Garba and another man, identified as Ismail Yusuf. According to the police, Garba allegedly used a cutlass to attack the judge, repeatedly striking his hand and inflicting…

Daud Olatunji A suspected member of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate in Oyo State, Adejoke Popoola, has confessed to selling two sets of children she gave birth to and allegedly stealing 19 other children for onward sale. Popoola, who was paraded alongside other suspects by the Oyo State Police Command in Ibadan on Monday, said she had been involved in child trafficking since October 2024. The suspect claimed she sold a newborn boy and a set of twins, adding that the twins were sold to a clinic in Ogeere for N300,000. She said she sometimes received between N80,000 and N120,000…

Daud Olatunji The Benue State Commissioner for Information, Solomon Iorpev, has accused the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, of repeatedly ignoring the state government’s protocol during his visits to the state. Iorpev made the allegation on Tuesday while reacting to an incident in Makurdi, where youths reportedly blocked Obi’s convoy during his visit to the state. The commissioner said Obi, being a former governor and a high-profile political figure, ought to have formally notified the state government before embarking on the visit. According to him, such notification would have enabled the state authorities to make adequate…

Zainab Abioye Suspected bandits have abducted the younger brother of a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Alhaji Shehu Pambegua, after killing three personnel of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service in separate attacks in Kubau Local Government Area of the state. The incidents occurred on Monday night, throwing communities around Pambegua and the Zaria-Pambegua axis into panic. The KADVS Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Ibrahim, confirmed the incidents in a statement on Tuesday. Ibrahim identified the abducted victim as Sanusi, the younger brother of the lawmaker representing Kubau Constituency in the state assembly. He said the suspected bandits stormed…

Daud Olatunji The Federal Government says more than one million children who were previously out of school have returned to classrooms within the last 20 months. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the newly appointed United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Country Representative to Nigeria, Prof Isaiah Da Rosa, on a courtesy visit. A statement by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, quoted Alausa as saying the development was part of the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms to expand access to education and improve learning outcomes. The…

…Tribunal proposes seven judicial divisions nationwide to speed up corruption cases … CCT laments inadequate case inflow, struggles to access N2bn budge Daud Olatunji The Code of Conduct Tribunal has begun moves to transform itself into a full-fledged National Anti-Corruption Court with seven judicial divisions and 37 judges dedicated to corruption-related cases. The proposed court, if approved by the National Assembly, is expected to operate a summary trial system under which corruption cases would be concluded within six weeks of arraignment. The Acting Director of Litigation at the CCT, Yahaya Laraski, disclosed this on Monday while outlining the achievements and…

Daud Olatunji Fresh confusion has erupted over the legal challenge to the August 15 Osun State governorship election after the All Progressives Congress denied authorising a petition purportedly filed against the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke. The controversy followed the display of two election petitions at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Secretariat in Osogbo on Monday. The petitions, dated September 5, 2026, listed the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and another petitioner, Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, as challengers to the election outcome. However, the APC legal team immediately disowned the petition attributed to the party and Oyebamiji, insisting that…