Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the recovery of assets and cash worth N105.82 billion and the securing of 31 convictions between 2023 and 2024. The ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, disclosed this during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, led by its Chairman, Hon. Kayode Akiolu, on Wednesday. Providing a breakdown, Aliyu revealed that the Commission received 2,038 petitions within the period, with 1,187 cases recorded in 2023 and 851 cases between January and October 2024. The agency secured 18 convictions in 2023 and an additional 13…

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced that Nigerians will bear the cost of obtaining the new multipurpose national identity card, citing limited government revenue as the reason behind the decision. Speaking during a two-day press conference in Lagos on Thursday, Peter Iwegbu, head of card management services at NIMC, explained that making the identity card a paid service would ensure that only individuals who genuinely need it request for it. “This decision was made to avoid repeating past mistakes where free national ID cards were produced but remained largely uncollected. “Before we stopped issuing them due to funding…

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the remand of 109 foreigners, charged over allegations bordering on cybercrime, in Kuje, and Suleja Correctional Centres. The judge, Ekerete Akpan, gave the order after a defence lawyer, James Onoja, a Senior Advcoate of Nigeria (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution to reflect the defendants’ names correctly on the charge sheet. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foreigners, who are said to be citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar, were recently arrested by the police. They were apprehended in their residence…

Residents of Oyo state trying to evade tax may soon go to jail and forfeit assets, warns the government. Olufemi Awakan, the executive chairman of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, disclosed in a statement that it was time to clear all the backlog of tax payments. “It is also time we ensure residents of the state fulfil their civic responsibilities and obligations to the state. The payment of taxes and levies are not optional, as stated in Section 24 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he explained. Mr Awakan stated that it was important that…

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported the destruction of 31 transmission towers by vandals in Okada and Ofosu communities of Edo State. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s Director of Public Affairs, disclosed in a statement on Friday that the attacks targeted the 330kV Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho transmission lines, with critical components removed. The damage, discovered earlier in November during a routine patrol by TCN linesmen, threatens power supply in the region. “TCN engineers from the Benin Sub-Region have initiated repairs to prevent the collapse of the affected towers and to avoid disruption of bulk power supply,” Mbah said. In a…

The Federal Government has revealed that the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, followed sustained diplomatic efforts by Nigeria on Finnish authorities. Ekpa was apprehended on Thursday alongside four others by Finnish authorities on charges of terrorism and incitement to violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has ordered his detention on probable cause, citing his alleged involvement in inciting violence through social media. In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Ekpa’s arrest and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to monitoring the legal proceedings. The Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa,…

The Yewa Youths Progressive Movement (YYPM) has cautioned investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo against portraying Ogun West border communities as hotspots for smuggling activities. In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Adeoye Akinola, and Publicity Secretary, Sunday Adeyemi, the group expressed dismay over what it described as sensationalism and unverified claims in Soyombo’s recent social media posts. The statement, issued in Abeokuta on Friday, accused the journalist of unjustly labeling residents of Ogun border towns as smugglers. YYPM stated that Soyombo’s assertion that thousands of vehicles loaded with foreign rice were stationed in Ogun border communities, awaiting smuggling into the…

The Ogun State Security Network, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps, has announced the commencement of its screening exercise for the recruitment of 700 additional personnel. A statement from the Corps Commander and issued by T. Bakare stated that the  screening, aimed at bolstering the state’s safety and security framework, will run from Monday, November 25, to Sunday, December 8, 2024, across four designated centers in Ogun State. Bakare explainer that th Screening exercise was donated at the various  screening centers across the state. He said  for Ijebu Center, it would take place at Ijebu-Ode Local Government Secretariat, Ijebu-Ode,…

Ayomide Awe The Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Command, Comptroller James Ojo, has expressed concerns over the alarming rise in illicit drug smuggling, announcing the seizure of illicit drugs valued at ₦117,587,405. Ojo disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing held at the Ogun II Area Command headquarters in Abeokuta. The Controller stated that the seizures, made between January and November 21, 2024, include 403 sacks and 6,504 parcels of cannabis sativa, as well as 362 packs of Tramaking tablets (a brand of tramadol). While lamenting the high rate of illicit drug trafficking in the state, Ojo cited operations…

In a move aimed at reducing transportation costs and enhancing accessibility, the Ogun State Government has outlined a step-by-step process for converting vehicles powered by Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines. Speaking in Abeokuta, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Olugbenga Dairo, detailed the conversion process, which involves three stages: pre-inspection by Vehicle Inspection Services (VIS) in collaboration with technicians at conversion centers, approval for computerized vehicle inspection, and final conversion and certification on-site by the Conversion Manager. “The two conversion centers are Nigeria Gas Transport Solution Ltd (NGTSL), located at Ogun State Public Works Agency,…