Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has  alleged  that citizens are bearing the burden of subsidising corruption and inefficiency within the administration. In a statement released on Tuesday, Atiku lamented what he called unprecedented hardships faced by Nigerian workers under the current administration, asserting that no government in the nation’s history had infringed upon workers’ rights as severely as the present one. Atiku highlighted the daily struggles of workers amidst skyrocketing prices of essential goods, criticizing the government’s failure to fulfill promises of wage increments and address the dire living conditions of the workforce. Drawing attention to the confusion surrounding the…

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has  dismissed  a defamation case filed by  former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and columnist Sonala Olumhense.  The court  also instructed the former President to pay a total of N4 million. Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi presided over the case and awarded the sum of N2 million against each defendant, Obasanjo and Olumhense, as the cost of the action.  The lawsuit stemmed from a January 27, 2019 article published by Punch Newspaper, which allegedly defamed Obasanjo’s character. Obasanjo, represented by his lawyer Kanu Agabi, had initially sought N1 billion in damages, describing the article as “false, malicious,…

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State says he has not taken any loan since he assumed office on November 27, 2022. Adeleke said this at the second edition of “Ipade Imole”, a forum where he gave stewardship to the people of the state on Tuesday in Ilesa. The governor said his  decision not to take any loan to finance projects was in line with his pledge to govern with available resources only “In all our governance activities so far, let it be known that we have never borrowed a kobo. “This is in line with our pledge to govern within…

Oil dealers, represented by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), have issued a stark ultimatum to the Nigerian government, threatening to close down their network of 30,000 filling stations nationwide if the long-standing debt of N200 billion is not settled promptly. In a recent communique, IPMAN’s Chairman of Depot Chairmen Forum, Yahaya Alhassan, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the non-payment of marketers’ bridging claims by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Alhassan warned of dire consequences should the debt remain unresolved, painting a grim picture of every IPMAN outlet shutting down across Nigeria,…

Two brothers identified as Henry and Emanuel Odep from Cross River State were apprehended and paraded by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their involvement in cyber fraud activities.  Henry confessed to making N460,000 by impersonating the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, on Facebook between September and December 2023.  The NSCDC had issued a public alert regarding the fake Facebook account earlier in September 2023. The investigation revealed their use of various platforms such as Opay, Moniepoint, and Palmpay to receive illicit funds.  Collaborative efforts between NSCDC intelligence units and counterparts from Delta and Anambra State Commands led…

The Federal Government has given the green light to a salary increase ranging from 25% to 35% for civil servants across various sectors.  The increase applies to six consolidated salary structures, including CONPSS, CONRAISS, CONPOSS, CONPASS, CONICCS, and CONAFSS. This move follows previous increases in sectors such as Tertiary Education and Health, where employees had already received salary bumps under structures like CONUASS, CONTISS, CONPCASS, CONTEDISS, CONMESS, and CONHESS. Effective from January 1st, 2024, the decision aims to enhance the financial well-being of civil servants, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to national development. Furthermore, the Federal Government has approved pension increments…

Daud Olatunji Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola, have thrown their support behind the creation of the new Ibara GRA Regeneration Scheme. The support came  despite controversies surrounding the eviction of current residents to pave the way for the construction. Obasanjo voiced his endorsement during an advocacy session organized by the Ministry of Housing, led by Commissioner Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi, at the Olowu palace in Oke-Ago Owu, Abeokuta.  Reflecting on the history of the old Ibara GRA, he lamented its outdated infrastructure and urged the state government to prioritize urban renewal.…

In a compelling rebuttal to the Defence Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) version of events surrounding his abduction, Mr. Segun Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews, has  described  the agency’s narrative as “tales by moonlight.”  Speaking out against what he perceives as an attempt to discredit him, Olatunji highlighted discrepancies and raised concerns about his safety in a statement personally signed and released to the public. Contrary to the DIA’s claims of an “emergency press conference” where Olatunji allegedly confessed to fabricating stories and apologized to Mr. Gbajabiamila, Olatunji vehemently denied such occurrences, branding them as fictitious.  He challenged the DIA to provide…

In a series of tragic events that have left the community of Ogun State reeling, two separate incidents of suspected suicides have occurred.  The first incident involved a 24-year-old woman, Gift Bello, who allegedly plunged into a well at Arigbanwo along Mowe, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun. Eyewitnesses reported that Bello drowned after jumping into the well and was later recovered lifeless.  She said that the  circumstances surrounding her death are under investigation, adding that  an autopsy has been scheduled to shed light on the tragedy. Simultaneously, in another part of the state, a man identified as…

The Benin Palace has expelled six traditional functionaries for their allegiance to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. Accused of sacrilege and falsehood against Benin customs, the functionaries, including Johnbull Igbinosun and S.E. Aigbiremwen, were stripped of their titles and royal recognition. Chief Press Secretary Osaigbovo Iguobaro stated that the erring officials admitted their wrongdoing before a committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie. The Uwangue of Benin deemed their actions deliberate attempts to undermine the kingdom, leading to their suspension and expulsion. The banished officials, escorted out of the Palace by ancestral spirits invoked by traditional seers, are…