Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji No fewer than 33 Muslim groups and associations in Nigeria, under the agies of Coalition of Muslim Organisations in Nigeria (CMON), have demanded that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and his Sultanate Council be granted immunity from dethronement and his influence expanded. The coalition also called on the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, to strengthen and reinforce the influence of the Sultan and his Sultanate Council. The groups stated this at a press conference  held on Thursday,in Abuja. Speaking on behalf of other groups, president of the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria…

Jelili Gbadamosi The Islamic Humanitarian Society of Nigeria (IHS) has announced that it had facilitated the release of 555 inmates, paid hospital bills for 227 patients, and empowered 436 individuals through loans and grants over the past 25 years. The  IHS  stated this during a courtesy visit to the Ogun State Police Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokutaas  part of activities to mark   it’s 25 years of dedicated service with remarkable achievements in prison and hospital outreach and economic empowerment. The National Coordinator of IHS, Rashid Okenla, highlighted these accomplishments  He acknowledged the challenges faced along the way but…

A former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nwabuoku, has pleaded with Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him more time to conclude the refund of public funds allegedly looted by him and his co-defendant, Felix Nweke. Nwabuoku and Nweke are facing 11 counts of money laundering amounting to N1.6 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the case. The defendants were accused of committing the acts while Nwabuoku served as the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021. The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/240/24,…

Operatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have apprehended a woman identified as Precious Yusuf, who was caught attempting to smuggle drugs into the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja. Precious Yusuf was nabbed on Tuesday during a routine search by vigilant correctional officers.  Disguised as a visitor, Yusuf attempted to bring contraband into the facility, concealing the drugs in food packs.  Her actions were uncovered when the officers conducted a thorough inspection of her items, revealing substances suspected to be Indian hemp and other dangerous drugs hidden within a carton. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by…

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that 140,000 children under 14 were living with HIV as of 2023.  He also revealed that there were 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths among children in the same year. He said this while addressing the committee’s inauguration on Thursday.  Meanwhile, theFederal Government inaugurated the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Paediatric AIDS Acceleration Plan Committee.  The initiative aims to drastically reduce mother-to-child transmission, eliminate HIV/AIDS, and enhance early testing and treatments for exposed infants. Alausa emphasised the government’s commitment to providing high-quality treatment and…

The emergency meeting called by President Bola Tinubu with the labour leaders on the new minimum wage concluded without a resolution.  The meeting, held at the State House in Abuja, was attended by representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The session was intended to address the pressing issue of implementing a new minimum wage, a topic that has been a significant concern for Nigeria’s workforce.  However, the talks ended inconclusively, with both parties agreeing to adjourn the discussions until next week.  This decision came after the labour leaders insisted on reporting back to…

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) worth N115.2 billion (approximately $75 million).  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  agreement aims to advance market transparency, and expand access to sustainable, reliable, and affordable power for millions of Nigerians. The signing ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, featured key representatives from both sides: Melissa Jones, USAID’s Nigeria mission director, and Mahmuda Mamman, the permanent secretary of the ministry of power, who signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations. The statement read “This agreement will facilitate the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 12-count charge against Saleh Mamman, a former Minister of Power, over an alleged N33.8 billion fraud.  The Commission filed the charges  in the Federal High Court in Abuja,  The EFCC’s charge sheet, accuses Mamman of conspiring with officials from the Ministry of Power and several private companies to embezzle funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Projects.  According to the EFCC, Mamman and his co-defendants used various schemes to indirectly divert N33,804,830,503.73 from the projects’ budgets.  The funds were reportedly intended to develop these crucial energy infrastructure projects…

The House of Representatives on Thursday, resolved to establish an ad-hoc committee to investigate the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) regarding the conduct of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.  This decision followed the adoption of a motion presented by Mr. Mohammed Bio, the representative of Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, Kwara State, during the plenary session held on Tuesday. The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Investigate the National Hajj Commission and the Federal Capital Territory Administration Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, their Agents, and Sub-Agents over Shoddy Arrangement and Treatment of Nigerian Pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj Exercise,” was brought to the floor…

In a landmark ruling on Thursday, the Supreme Court declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to withhold funds intended for Local Government (LG) administrations. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the ruling is expected to bring significant changes to the financial autonomy and operational efficiency of the 774 local government councils in Nigeria. Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Emmanuel Agim emphasised that the refusal of state governments to grant financial independence to local governments has persisted for over two decades.  He pointed out that local governments have been deprived of their rightful funds by state governors acting on their behalf,…