Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina has sentenced a woman, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, to death by hanging after convicting her of terrorism-related offences linked to banditry in the state. Mukhtar was found guilty on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit terrorism and aiding and abetting terrorist activities. She was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while allegedly attempting to deliver ammunition to a suspected bandit leader. Following her arrest, she was arraigned and prosecuted by the DSS. Delivering judgment, Justice A.B. Bawale held that…

A Federal  High Court  in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the N110bn fraud case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The trial judge, Maryann Anenih, in a ruling delivered in Abuja, held that the court was competent to entertain the charges and subsequently refused Bello’s request to strike out the 16-count charge. Bello is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency over alleged financial misappropriation amounting to N110 billion during his tenure as governor. The former governor had, through his legal team,…

Daud Olatunji A wave of outrage has trailed comments by an aide to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who dismissed the presence of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, triggering a flurry of reactions from residents and political supporters across social media. The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, had stirred controversy after declaring, “Stop wasting your time; there is nothing like PDP in Ogun State,” while reacting to the emergence of Alhaja Dr. Lateefat Oyeyemi Sowunmi Kolapo as the party’s deputy governorship candidate. However, the statement has been met with sharp criticism, mockery, and…

Dangote Industries Limited has intensified efforts to strengthen its foothold in the global fertiliser market, leveraging a strong track record of investments and strategic partnerships across Africa. The company, which has recorded successful investments and exits in key sectors including renewable energy, port infrastructure, digital connectivity and industrial platforms, said its fertiliser business remains central to its long-term growth strategy. The Dangote Fertiliser Plant has continued to play a pivotal role in meeting Nigeria’s domestic fertiliser demand, while also exporting to international markets and boosting the country’s foreign exchange earnings. With a new phase of expansion underway, the firm is…

…Healthcare Facilities To Get Dedicated Private Power Systems …Reform Expected To Improve Emergency Care, Service Delivery Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has unveiled a sweeping plan to end chronic power failure in Nigeria’s hospitals, introducing a private sector–driven model that will see healthcare facilities powered by dedicated energy systems in a bid to eliminate dependence on generators. For years, hospitals across the country have operated under what health experts describe as a “survival-by-generator” system, where unstable electricity supply forces emergency wards, theatres, laboratories and intensive care units to rely heavily on diesel-powered alternatives—often at high financial and clinical cost. The…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepen collaboration with federal authorities and security agencies in addressing the worsening security situation in the state, including banditry, kidnappings and threats to rural livelihoods. The governor gave the assurance on Monday while receiving the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade, at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan. Makinde said his government had continued to provide logistical and operational support to security agencies, stressing that more would be done to strengthen ongoing operations aimed at restoring safety across affected communities. He commended the leadership of…

Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has disclosed that some leaders of the pro-democracy movement, including members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), privately urged him to extend military rule after becoming convinced that he was genuinely committed to handing over power in 1999. Abubakar said the request came only months into his administration when key figures in the pro-democracy struggle realised that his transition timetable was not a political bluff but a firm commitment to return Nigeria to civilian rule. He made the revelation in his autobiography unveiled on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of activities…

A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has warned that the proposed creation of state police will not, on its own, resolve Nigeria’s deepening insecurity, insisting that comprehensive constitutional restructuring remains the only sustainable solution. Ezekwesili, in a public memorandum addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and other key stakeholders, said the country’s worsening security crisis is rooted in structural and governance deficiencies rather than the absence of decentralised policing. Her position comes amid renewed moves by the Federal Government and lawmakers to establish state police as part of efforts to curb rising cases of kidnapping, banditry and…

The Nigerian military on Sunday said no fewer than 27 suspected terrorists were killed in a series of coordinated airstrikes targeting insurgent enclaves in Borno State. According to a statement by the Nigerian Army, the operations were carried out by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, which struck terrorist hideouts in the Tumbuns axis of the state. The military disclosed that 12 insurgents were neutralised during an air raid on Dawoshe in Kukawa Local Government Area, while another 15 were killed in a separate precision strike at Metele in Guzamala LGA. It noted that the strikes formed part of…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, describing the ruling as a grave abuse of judicial process and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. The party said it would petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what it termed “judicial rascality” by the presiding judge. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC and four other political parties over their alleged failure to meet electoral performance thresholds in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections. The affected parties include…