Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has expressed grave concerns over the current state of Nigeria’s judiciary, describing it as the most significant danger to the nation’s democracy.  Obi shared these remarks during the fifth memorial of late Justice Anthony Aniagolu at the Godfrey Okoye University in Enugu. Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, pointed out a concerning decline within the judicial system, emphasizing that this deterioration poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s future.  He stressed that while the judiciary still boasts some outstanding judges, the overall system has been marred by…

Justice Nyesom-Wike Suzzette, wife of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been recommended for promotion to the Court of Appeal.  Suzzette, a sitting judge at the Rivers State High Court and former First Lady of Rivers State, is among 21 judges proposed for elevation by the National Judicial Council (NJC).  This recommendation comes following the 105th plenary meeting of the NJC, held on May 15 and 16, 2024. Ariwoola Oluwakemi Victoria, the daughter-in-law of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has been recommended for elevation to the Federal High Court in Abuja.  Victoria is…

In a shocking and mysterious incident, the Kwara State Police Command has detained five health workers in connection with the disappearance of a placenta and umbilical cord from a newly born baby.  The incident occurred at Cottage Hospital in Illoffa, Oke-Ero local government area, last Sunday. According to the Daily Trust, those detained include Dr. Ajibola, nurses Rukayat Adeloye, Aishat Awolusi, Peace Alabi, and ward attendant Toyin Adewunmi.  The suspects are being held in Ilorin for further interrogation. The situation nearly escalated into violence as angered youths from the community threatened to torch the hospital.  Elders of the Odo-Owa community…

The Oyo State government has unveiled plans to recruit 7,000 primary school teachers and 100 caregivers for special schools across the state. PLATFORM TIMES reports that it was  a significant move to bolster its educational framework. The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, disclosed that its aims were  to address critical staffing shortages and enhance the quality of education. Speaking at  a press conference held in Ibadan, Dr. Adeniran stressed  the importance of this recruitment drive.  He said “preliminary work on the recruitment process has already begun.”  He highlighted  the urgency and commitment…

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of a gang of kidnappers allegedly responsible for the abduction and murder of retired Major General Richard Duru in September 2023.  The incident occurred along Bishops Court, Area 7, Orji/Uratta Owerri, where Duru was kidnapped in his black Mercedes Benz. The kidnappers demanded and collected a ransom of $50,000 from Duru’s family but tragically murdered him despite the payment.  The Imo Police Command paraded the suspected killers at its headquarters in Owerri, the Imo state capital, alongside 32 other individuals accused of various crimes across the state. Imo Public Relations Officer, Henry…

Sakeenah Kareem  It was in 2023 when Fadlullahi Olamilekan decided to put Ogun state on the Eid-ul-Fitr events map. Eid ul Fitr in Abeokuta was usually an individual and family celebration unlike in Lagos and Ibadan where events like Eid Glitz and Eid Fest brought everyone together. Though there were picnics and hangouts organized by different organizations on the second or third day of the festival in Abeokuta, there was none that accommodated everyone.  The thought of creating an Abeokuta Muslim social community as said by Fahd was what led to Eid Fiesta 1.0 in 2023. After recording…

In the intricate dance of love, words hold a profound power. They can build bridges of understanding or erect walls of misunderstanding. Among the most damaging of verbal constructs are labels, which, when applied to a partner in a relationship, have the potential to fracture the very foundation upon which love is built. Consider the scenario: A couple, deeply entwined in the tapestry of their affection, encounters a disagreement. In the heat of the moment, one partner hurls a label at the other—perhaps “narcissistic,” “love bombing,” or “gaslighting.” What follows is a chain reaction of hurt, resentment, and fractured trust.…

Daud Olatunji In a significant move to bolster agricultural productivity and reduce poverty, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, has expanded its training and empowerment program.  This initiative, part of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, aims to support 5,000 additional smallholder crop and poultry farmers across Nigeria’s 109 Senatorial Districts. The empowerment program, which took place on Tuesday, May 15, 2024, provided essential production inputs to over 5,000 smallholder farmers.  The distribution was carried out simultaneously across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory…

Daud Olatunji The new Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Kola Oladeji, has declared that the era of accidental discharge by his men is over. Oladeji made this statement on Thursday at the palace of the Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Adeniyi Olaniyan, during a courtesy call on the monarch. The Comptroller, who also paid visits to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Gbadebo, and the Olu of Owode, Oba Mathew Akindele, said that the officers and men have been warned to respect the rules of engagement. Oladeji stated that the Federal…

The Ogun State Government has  initiated a sweeping demolition exercise targeting over 200 shanties and illegal structures surrounding schools and markets in Abeokuta, the state capital. Driven by the imperative to fortify the safety of learning environments, the operation, identified as part of the ‘Safer School Initiative’, aimed to eradicate structures known for harboring criminal activities. Led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Farooq Akintunde, a taskforce descended upon areas including Kuto, Idi-Aba, Oke Ijeun, and Panseke, wielding bulldozers to clear the landscape of unauthorized constructions. Notable educational institutions affected by the demolition included St John…