Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The annual Omoluwabi Festival held in Abeokuta on Tuesday celebrated outstanding Nigerians for their virtues of integrity, hard work, and diligence, showcasing the essence of Yoruba cultural values. The festival, spearheaded by Princess Adejoke Somoye, popularly known as Ewaede, attracted a cross-section of society, including students, artisans, and captains of industry. Speaking during the event, Princess Somoye emphasized the need to celebrate individuals who embody the Omoluwabi trait—an enduring commitment to integrity and good character. “In a society where money is often elevated above good character, it is vital to recognize those who still uphold values like hard work, diligence,…

The leadership and members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ogun State, have thrown their support for second-term ambition of the union’s chairman, Akibu Titilayo, popularly known as Efele. At the union’s last general meeting for 2024,the motion to support Titilayo’s second term was moved by the state’sFirst Vice Chairman, Comrade Monsuru Owookade, and seconded by the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Adeyemi Adeleye. Members from various chapters endorsed the motion, describing Titilayo as a listening and progressive leader Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the Secretary of the RTEAN in the State, Tiwalade Akingbade, expressed strong support…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024, underscoring the alarming rise in criminal activities and the economic burden of insecurity in the country. This revelation was contained in the bureau’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, which reported that 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households during the period under review. The North-West emerged as the most crime-ridden region, with 14.4 million incidents, followed by the North-Central, which recorded 8.8 million cases. In contrast, the South-East reported the least…

The World Bank has outlined plans to approve $1.65bn in new loans for Nigeria in 2025, focusing on internally displaced persons, education, and nutrition. This comes as part of its ongoing efforts to address critical developmental challenges in the country. According to information obtained from the World Bank’s website, three projects are in the pipeline. The first, titled Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project, will receive $300m and aims to provide sustainable solutions for displaced persons and their host communities. Approval for this project is slated for April 8, 2025. The second project, HOPE for Quality Basic…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has recovered over N52 billion and $966,900.83 in one year. The ICPC chairman, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at an event to mark his one-year anniversary as the chairman of ICPC. Mr Aliyu said the commission also intercepted and stopped the diversion of N5.882 billion in 323 ministries, departments, and agencies within the same period. He attributed the significant milestone achievement to the steadfast commitment to the rule of law, adaptation to evolving trends and equipping its workforce with ICT capacity in the fight against corruption. “The current…

Some concerned Nigerian journalists have petitioned prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, seeking his legal intervention over the continued detention of four of their colleagues charged under the Cybercrimes Act. The detained journalists — Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami — have been in custody at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility since September 2024. Their detention followed investigative reports alleging fraudulent activities involving Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO) and its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Agbaje. In a letter titled “Urgent Appeal for Legal Intervention: Unjust Detention of Four Journalists” and signed by Oluwaseun Faleye (Seunmanuel) and…

The Ikoyi Marriage Registry has been thrust into a fresh corruption scandal following allegations of certificate forgery, as multiple women lay claim to the estate of a deceased Nigerian businessman, Mr. Monday Akpoviroro Ovuede. At the heart of the controversy is an intricate network of officials allegedly involved in racketeering, enabling fraudulent procurement of marriage certificates to manipulate legal inheritance processes. The case, which highlights systemic corruption within the registry and the Citizenship Office under the Ministry of Interior, came to light after Mrs. Jennifer Ovuede, the widow of the late businessman, petitioned the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Her…

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to advancing the infrastructure legacy of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing his leadership as a source of inspiration for Nigeria’s continued progress. In a personally signed statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu extended heartfelt birthday wishes to Buhari on the occasion of his 82nd birthday, commending his years of dedicated service to the nation. “As you celebrate this remarkable milestone in Daura, we reflect on your years of dedicated service and leadership, which have significantly shaped the course of our nation,” Tinubu stated. Highlighting…

Human rights activist, Olamide Thomas, has filed a lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force for allegedly violating her fundamental rights through unlawful arrest and detention. The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 17, 2024, with case number FHC/ABJ/CS, names the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commissioner of Police, National Cybercrime Center, as the 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively. Thomas, through her legal team comprising Dr. S. M. Oyeghe, Inibehe Effiong, and Abubakar Marshall, is seeking a declaration that her arrest and detention since December 13, 2024, allegedly over…

The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended all 18 local government council chairmen in the state over allegations of insubordination and gross misconduct. The suspension, announced during plenary on Tuesday, followed a petition by Governor Monday Okpebholo, who accused the council chairmen of refusing to submit financial statements of their respective councils to the state government. The House has directed the leaders of the legislature in the affected councils to take over administration for the next two months. The motion for the suspension was moved by Isibor Addeh, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Esan North-East I, and…