Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji A women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State, Aisha Abubakar, has confessed to serving as an informant for bandits.  Abubakar admitted to receiving a meagre N5000 from a N9 million ransom and a motorcycle paid to secure the release of kidnapped individuals. Abubakar’s confession emerged in a viral interrogation video where she detailed her involvement in the kidnapping of five family members of the Tsaiyaya Ward APC chairman.  According to her, she played a crucial role in providing information that led to the abduction of Alhaji Sanusi, his two wives, and three children…

The police in Katsina State have arrested a 13-year-old boy, suspected to be providing information to armed bandits. ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the Public Relations Officer of the command , made this known in Katsina. “On July 3, the command, in collaboration with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) attached to Dansoda village, Dandume Local Government Area (LGA), succeeded in arresting the 13-year-old boy. “He resides in Sheik Abdullahi quarters of Dandume town. He  was arrested in connection to a suspected case of aiding and abetting armed banditry. “The suspect was arrested following the intelligence tips…

 Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has publicly declined his recent appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, emphasising the urgent need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the widespread hardship faced by Nigerians. This decision comes after Senate President Godswill Akpabio reassigned Ndume following his removal as Chief Whip of the 10th Senate on Wednesday.  During a press chat in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Friday, Ndume expressed his disinterest in the tourism portfolio, citing his lack of expertise in the field.  He stated, “I was begged to accept the position of…

The Federal Government has shut down an illegal gold mine site in Yagba East Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, stated that the move was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to combat illegal mining and reposition the sector to boost Nigeria’s economic profile. In a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Friday in Abuja, the operation was carried out by the Mining marshals in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA. According to Tomori, the operation involved dislodging illegal miners…

Daud Olatunji  The Federal Government of Nigeria has levied a $220 million fine against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, for violations of local consumer protection and data privacy laws.  This was disclosed by Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), on Friday. Dr. Abdullahi revealed that investigations demonstrated that Meta engaged in unauthorised data-sharing practices, appropriating the personal data of Nigerian users without their consent.  He highlighted that Meta’s conduct constituted an abuse of its market dominance and involved discriminatory practices against Nigerian users compared to other…

Daud Olatunji The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that eight students are currently serving jail terms for forgery related to the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).  The  JAMB registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this while briefing stakeholders on the organization’s activities for the year 2024. Professor Oloyede highlighted the case of a student from Ondo State who was sentenced to a one-year jail term for a forgery offence similar to that of Mmesoma Ejikeme.  He added that around 30 other students were arrested for similar crimes during the 2024 UTME. “Of Mmesoma’s case, Mmesoma was just…

Daud Olatunji  The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has clarified that the Dangote refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and has not yet been licensed.  Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of NMDPRA, made this announcement while addressing state house correspondents on Thursday, responding to concerns about the national supply of petroleum products and the status of the refinery. Ahmed stated that the Dangote refinery, touted as a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s oil industry, is only about 45% complete.  “Dangote refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet. We have not licensed them…

Daud Olatunji The Organised Private Sector (OPS) has expressed its inability to pay the newly agreed N70,000 minimum wage without substantial support from the government.  This call for assistance follows the recent agreement between President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the organized labour unions. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) accepted the N70,000 minimum wage proposed by the federal government on Thursday.  The announcement was made by Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who conveyed President Tinubu’s offer following a meeting with labour leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Despite the acceptance by labour unions, the…

By Daud Olatunji The Ogun State Executive Council has officially appointed Deputy Registrar, Crescent University,Abeokuta, Alhaji Mutiu Adedimeji Oyede-Lawal as the Oloola of Ilara in the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area.  The appointment comes after a keenly contested selection process and the passing of the late monarch, Oba Samuel Alabi Adeluyi, who joined his ancestors on March 20, 2020. Alhaji Oyede-Lawal, the Deputy Registrar in charge of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Crescent University, Abeokuta, was chosen by the Kingmakers and Regency Council on May 28, 2024. The stool, vied for by four princes from the Faningbe/Igbaka Ruling House,…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, who sought to have the charges against him in an alleged drug deal quashed.  The appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CR/516/2023, was deemed unmeritorious by a three-member panel of the appellate court on Thursday, July 18. In the lead judgment, Justice Adebukola Banjoko upheld the findings and conclusions of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, who, on March 22, 2023, ruled against quashing the charges.  Justice Banjoko stated, “In conclusion, this court finds no reason to disturb the findings and conclusions…