Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A Syrian national who had lived in Sokoto State for over four decades has died in a suspected suicide after reportedly ingesting mosquito insecticide at his residence in Gawon Nama Zaga Road, Sokoto metropolis. The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the incident, which occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. According to police sources, the tragedy came to light when a 16-year-old boy, Ahmad Aliyu of Gagi area—employed by the deceased—raised an alarm after finding his boss, identified as Abdulrahman Badenjki, allegedly drinking a substance later identified as Executor mosquito insecticide. Aliyu was said to have rushed into a nearby mosque…

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence imposed on Maryam Sanda for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, dismissing the presidential pardon earlier granted to her by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, had been convicted in 2020 by an Abuja High Court for stabbing Bello to death during a domestic dispute at their home in Abuja in 2017. She had spent more than six years and eight months in the Suleja Custodial Centre before receiving a controversial presidential reprieve that reduced her penalty to 12 years’…

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, in Kuje Correctional Centre over his alleged involvement in a N2.2bn contract fraud. Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on an eight-count charge bordering on fraud, bribery and abuse of office allegedly committed during his tenure as labour minister between 2015 and 2023. The former minister, who also served as governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party from 2003 to 2006, pleaded not guilty…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 26, 2026, to deliver judgment in the case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, over alleged non-disclosure and illegal ownership of multi-billion-naira assets. Justice James Omotosho set the date on Friday after lawyers representing the NDLEA, Kyari, and his two younger brothers—Mohammed and Ali—adopted their final written addresses and argued their positions on the 23-count charge. The NDLEA is accusing the former commander of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and his brothers of failing to fully declare assets allegedly…

With days to the New Year, a Nigerian non-profit, Lyceum Foundation, has stepped up efforts to cushion hunger in Ogun State, launching a large-scale food outreach targeted at vulnerable families in Abeokuta. The initiative, which held at St. Simeon’s Anglican Primary School, Olopa in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area, featured a children’s funfair including quizzes and spelling competitions, before hundreds of food packs were distributed to indigent pupils and residents. The foundation extended the outreach to Laderin community, where elderly residents and struggling households received bags of rice, over 100 cartons of noodles, ready-made clothes, and other relief materials. Founder of…

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, on Thursday deepened its commitment to hands-on entrepreneurship training with the commissioning of a block-making industry, a 5KVA solar power system, and a multi-point Wi-Fi installation— all designed and executed by students of the institution. The projects, undertaken under the institution’s Special Practical Entrepreneurship Projects (SPEPs), were showcased at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (MAPCED) and supervised by the Entrepreneurship Directorate with technical input from industry professionals, many of whom are MAPOLY alumni. Governing Council Chairman, Emeritus Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, who led the commissioning, said the institution had demonstrated that polytechnics remain critical to Nigeria’s…

A Catholic priest on Thursday relived the horror of the June 5, 2022 massacre at St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that the explosives deployed by the attackers shook the sanctuary so violently “it felt like the ground was opening to swallow us.” The priest, whose identity was concealed for security reasons, testified in the ongoing trial of five men accused of executing the deadly attack that killed more than 40 worshippers and injured over 100 others. The defendants ;  Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar —…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Ogun State and announced the commencement of the mandatory display of the voters’ register for public scrutiny. In a statement signed by the Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Feyijimi Saseyi, the Commission said the first phase of the CVR exercise officially ended on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, after months of online and physical registration across the state. In line with Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC will display the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections from Monday, December 15…

… NEITI warns Nigeria lost $3.3bn To Crude Theft In One Year … CAC Reveals Vessel’s Managing Firm Is Inactive With No Contacts Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s maritime and regulatory systems have again come under intense global scrutiny after the United States Navy and Coast Guard arrested a Nigerian-linked supertanker, Skipper, over allegations of large-scale crude oil theft, drug trafficking, piracy, and connections to an international crime network. The Skipper, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with IMO number 9304667, was intercepted in an operation publicly confirmed by US President Donald Trump. Preliminary investigations show the vessel was being operated…

Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, is set for arraignment on Friday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) files an eight-count charge against him. The commission accused  him of awarding multi-billion-naira contracts to cronies and companies linked to him during his eight-year oversight of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). The former Anambra State governor, who was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday night, has remained in EFCC custody ahead of his court appearance at the FCT High Court, Gwarinpa. The charge dated October 31, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sylvanus Tahir alongside…