Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a tragic turn of events, Nigeria has lost two more pilgrims from Kwara State currently participating in the ongoing Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia.  The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board announced on Thursday, June 13, that the deceased pilgrims, Salman Muhammad Alade and Ayishat Shuaib Ologele, succumbed to brief illnesses. The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.  “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved pilgrims. May Allah grant them eternal rest and comfort their families,” Abdulkadir stated. These recent deaths…

 A chieftain of the Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, Akin Fapohunda has said the draft of “A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, would be sent to President Bola Tinubu on Friday. The draft bill which is seeking a return to the regional form of government, with Nigeria divided into eight regions, also seeks among others, new extant laws to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.” The draft which had gone viral…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has issued a stark warning to Nigerians about the widespread presence of adulterated and contaminated foods in markets across the country.  During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the acting Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Adamu Abdullahi, highlighted the urgent need for vigilance among consumers. Abdullahi revealed that unscrupulous traders are engaging in harmful adulteration practices, disregarding the severe health implications for consumers.  He made these remarks at a one-day sensitization workshop aimed at traders, farmers, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the general public.  The workshop addressed issues such as…

 The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside contempt proceedings that were initiated by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, against the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede. The unanimous judgement was delivered by Justice Joseph Oyewole on Thursday.  The court overruled the preliminary objection raised by the respondent, Yahaya Bello, on technical grounds. Justice Oyewole noted that the trial judge failed to extend the orders from February 9 in the final judgement delivered on April 17. Additionally, Justice Oyewole stated that the issue raised by the respondent regarding the interim order…

An Ekiti State  High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a pastor with  Winner Chapel Church in Omuo-Ekiti, Enoch Ebinyiam to live imprisonment for raping a minor in Ekiti State . The convicted cleric was sentenced Thursday after the court ruled that it was satisfied the charge against him had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the victim, a daughter of one of the worshippers in the convict’s church, was said to have been raped by the pastor in one of her visits to the vicarage. The girl was said to usually frequent the mission house to…

By Jelili Gbadamosi In a compelling appeal, former senator Shehu Sani has urged President Bola Tinubu to pardon the EndSARS protesters who remain in detention.  Speaking at a dinner marking the 2024 Democracy Day, Sani emphasised the importance of reconciliation and justice in healing the nation. In October 2020, Nigerian youths took to the streets to protest against the abuses committed by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police.  The protests, which spread across cities like Lagos, Rivers, and Ibadan, led to the arrest of numerous protesters, many of whom are still behind bars. Sani, who represented Kaduna…

Daud Olatunji  An alleged scandal has rocked the Ogun State Housing Scheme, following the government’s failure to allocate houses to 200 applicants two years after payments were made. The affected individuals had expected to receive their homes in the Prince Court Estate, located along Kobape in Ogun State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the applicants had each paid ₦5,500,000 into the coffers of the state government with the promise of receiving a house in the estate. However, almost three years later, they have yet to be allocated any property. The disgruntled applicants, represented by Adeyemi Aremu, have accused Governor Dapo Abiodun’s…

Daud Olatunji  State governors have urged the Federal Government to refund their full equity investments in the $10 billion National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).  In addition to their equity investments, the governors, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), are also demanding an equitable rate of return on these investments. The governors’ demands were articulated in a document titled “Development of the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan Policy Recommendations by State Governments,” submitted to the Federal Ministry of Power.  While the ministry confirmed receipt of the…

In a significant development, 8,651 holders of Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA)  have withdrawn  a substantial sum of N14.20 billion in the first quarter of 2024 due to temporary job loss.  This information was disclosed in the latest report published by the National Pension Commission (PenCom). PLATFORM TIMES reports that the report indicated that PenCom received a total of 8,702 requests from RSA holders seeking to access 25 percent of their pension savings as a result of temporary unemployment.  It was also gathered that out of these, 8,651 requests were approved, while 51 were rejected because the applicants were above 50…

Wema Bank has announced its intention to pursue legal action in response to circulating reports suggesting that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is poised to revoke its banking licence. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the reports, which have gained traction on social media, particularly via a viral WhatsApp message, allege that Wema Bank, among others, is at risk of losing its licence. In a statement released on Tuesday by Mabel Adeteye, Wema Bank’s Head of Brands and Marketing Communications, the bank firmly denied these claims.  Adeteye emphasized that Wema Bank’s recent performance, including its financial results for the first quarter…