Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday detailed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, how suspected terrorists planned and executed the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, and how intelligence and technical tracking led to the arrest of five suspects. The witness, codenamed SSG under court-approved protection, testified as the ninth prosecution witness before Justice Emeka Nwite. He said he led a team to unravel the perpetrators, their sponsors, and the circumstances surrounding the attack. “The incident occurred on 5th June 2022. I was mandated to investigate and bring those responsible to…

Aisha Waliyullah & Fareedah Ogundairo The Vice Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State,  Prof. Jeremiah Ojediran, has attributed Nigeria’s growing insecurity to poor urban planning and neglected infrastructure, saying deliberate design could curb crime across the country. Prof. Ojediran made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the 12th Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter, on Tuesday. He highlighted that Nigeria’s security crisis is not anecdotal but backed by data, citing the Global Terrorism Index 2025, which ranked Nigeria as the sixth most terrorised nation globally,…

The Ogun State Chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (OGUN FIBAN) has felicitated with Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), Member representing Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, on the occasion of his birthday. In a statement signed by the Chairman of OGUN FIBAN, Hon. Chief Olalekan  Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba), the association described Prince Isiaka as a “distinguished statesman, accomplished administrator and visionary leader” whose dedication to effective representation, economic development, and inclusive governance has earned him wide respect across Ogun State and beyond. The statement highlighted Prince Isiaka’s leadership at the National Assembly,…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday charged traditional and religious leaders across the country to take ownership of the campaign against preventable diseases, saying improved healthcare delivery requires collective action beyond government efforts. Tinubu gave the charge while addressing participants at the National Summit of Traditional and Religious Leaders on Health and Well-being held at the State House in Abuja. He said the fight against preventable illnesses such as maternal and newborn complications, vaccine-preventable diseases and malnutrition could only be won if community leaders actively mobilise their subjects and congregations. “The war against preventable diseases is the responsibility of all…

Opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday staged a dramatic walkout from plenary following a heated disagreement over the controversial manual collation clause in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act. The protest erupted after the lower chamber retained a provision allowing manual collation of election results as a fallback in cases where electronic transmission fails. The rowdy session underscored deep divisions among lawmakers over the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the centre of the controversy is Section 60(3) of the proposed amendment, which provides that presiding officers shall electronically transmit…

The Senate on Tuesday amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, reducing the statutory notice period for general elections from 360 days to 300 days, in a move aimed at preventing the 2027 polls from coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The decision followed a motion for rescission moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who cited Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders. Bamidele said a critical review of the earlier version of the bill revealed that the 360-day notice requirement could compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to fix…

Daud Olatunji …Urges Muslims To Pray For Nigeria, Support The Needy The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of Ramadan 1447AH following the sighting of the crescent moon. The announcement was conveyed in a statement on Tuesday by Sambo Junaidu, Chairman of the Sultanate Council’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs. According to the statement, verified reports of the new moon were received from various moon-sighting committees across the country and were carefully authenticated in collaboration with the National…

Members of the minority caucus in the House of Representatives on Tuesday staged a dramatic walkout during plenary after the chamber voted to retain a controversial clause in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides for both electronic and manual transmission of election results. The protest followed the adoption of Clause 60(3), which allows for real-time electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while also permitting manual transmission in the event of technical glitches, network failures or other disruptions. The clause was sustained through a voice vote, with the “nays” prevailing,…

A 38-year-old officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Chidiebere James, has allegedly been stabbed to death by his wife in Abia State. The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday at Umuizi, Ekeoba Ohuhu, in Umuahia North Local Government Area. The deceased, who was popularly known in the community as “Agali,” was said to have engaged in a heated argument with his wife a day before the tragic incident. Residents told PLATFORM TIMES that the dispute began over their sick child and the officer’s alleged inability to provide funds for medical treatment. The situation was further compounded by…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially announced Wednesday, February 18, 2026, as the first day of Ramadan 1447AH following the sighting of the crescent moon. The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia confirmed on Tuesday that credible testimonies of moon sighting were received from various committees across the country, signalling the commencement of the holy month for Muslims in the Kingdom. In a statement, the court said the decision was reached after reviewing and verifying reports submitted by authorised moon-sighting committees and trusted witnesses in line with Islamic tradition, which emphasises physical sighting of the crescent as the basis for…