Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji A staggering N721 billion ($1.26 billion) was paid in cash bribes to public officials across Nigeria in 2023, according to a report published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).  The report, which draws on findings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the NBS, highlights the endemic nature of corruption within the country’s public sector. Titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends,” the report reveals that the average cash bribe paid in 2023 was N8,284, a significant increase from the 2019 average of N5,754.  The total amount of bribes paid…

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has made an urgent plea to President Bola Tinubu, requesting the deployment of drones to monitor and secure the state’s extensive borders. The governor’s appeal was made during a private meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja. Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Otu highlighted the significant security challenges facing Cross River State, particularly along its borders. He emphasized the need for advanced surveillance technology to combat the increasing threat of insecurity. “Actually, I met with Mr. President about security and boundary issues in my state,” Governor Otu…

Temitope Ajayi,the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, has sharply rebutted allegations made by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume. Ndume had claimed that President Tinubu is unaware of the severe hardships being faced by Nigerians. Ndume, representing Borno South and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), voiced his concerns at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Wednesday. He asserted, “Mr.President is not in the picture of what is happening outside the Villa. He has been fenced off and caged.  Many of us won’t go through the backdoor to…

A35-year-old woman, Jumoke Ayoola, was on Friday docked in an Iyaganku chief magistrates’ court in Ibadan for allegedly threatening to kill her husband. Mrs Ayoola, whose address was not provided, was charged with a threat to kill. She pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Insp Akeem Akinloye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 4, at about 1:00 p.m., in the Oluyole area, Ibadan. Mr Akinloye said the defendant hired some killers to kill her husband, Jide, after having a misunderstanding with him. He said the offence contravened the provisions of section 86 of the Criminal…

A housewife, Kafayat Ajoke, begged an Ilorin court for divorce from her husband, Aminullahi Ibrahim, over his inability to provide food for the family. The petitioner also sought custody of the two children and N100,000 monthly as maintenance and feeding allowance. “I noticed that my husband changed after he lost his job one year ago,” said the housewife. “He does not provide enough money for food for the family.” Responding, Mr Ibrahim agreed to the divorce application. Mr Ibrahim said he can only afford to give his wife N2,000 monthly for the maintenance and feeding of the two…

Senator Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, has lambasted the current administration, branding it as a “kakistocracy” and accusing it of being overrun by incompetent and corrupt individuals.  Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Ndume highlighted what he perceives as the alarming ineptitude and self-serving nature of the country’s leaders, asserting that Nigeria’s government is being led by those unfit to govern and prioritising personal interests over national well-being. Ndume’s criticism underscores the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s political landscape.  “The government is going down,” he remarked, “run by kakistocrats and kleptocrats.” He contended that although President Bola…

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted Dr. Emmanuel Barki, the acting Rector of Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo. Alongside Dr. Barki, two other senior staff members and their driver were also taken hostage. The abduction took place on Thursday as the victims were returning to Ugbokolo from an official assignment in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  kidnappers struck along the Otukpo/Otukpa Road, a route notorious for such criminal activities. According to a reliable source close to the rector’s family, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, the kidnappers…

At least 16 students were killed on Friday when a school in central Nigeria collapsed on pupils taking exams, according to an AFP correspondent. Trapped students were heard crying for help under the rubble after the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State fell in on classrooms.  The Plateau State Government says 200 pupils were trapped in the school that collapsed in Busa Buji, Jos North Local Government Area of the state. While emergency workers confirmed that 12 persons died, several others are still unaccounted for as of now. But some of them have been rescued, the…

Daud Olatunji The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has emphasised the necessity for robust collaboration between law enforcement agencies to effectively tackle banking fraud in the country.  The Managing Director/Chief Executive of NDIC, Bello Hassan,stated this  during the annual capacity-building workshop for law enforcement agents held in Lagos on Thursday. Represented by the NDIC Director of Communication & Public Affairs, Bashir Nuhu, Hassan acknowledged the challenges faced in investigating and prosecuting financial malpractices and bank fraud cases.  He assured the agencies of NDIC’s unwavering support, emphasising the critical role of understanding the rapidly evolving financial technology landscape. “We are…

Daud Olatunji In a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it was revealed that Ogun State received the least allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) among the six South West states over a period of five months. Between January and May 2024, a total of N350.75 billion was shared among Lagos, Ogun, and four other states in the region. According to the NBS, Lagos State emerged as the highest beneficiary, receiving a substantial N134.48 billion, a significant portion of the total allocation. Oyo State followed, with an allocation of N55.57 billion. Ondo State came third,…