Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has raised concerns over a bill seeking to confer indigene status on individuals who have resided in a particular location for at least ten years, warning that it could exacerbate ethnic tensions and violence. The House of Representatives recently passed for second reading a series of bills aimed at amending sections of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. Among them is the Indigene Status Bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu and six other lawmakers, which underwent a second reading on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The proposed legislation seeks to grant indigenous rights to individuals who have…

Scores of protesters on Thursday stormed the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja, demanding the immediate suspension of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Abayomi Fasina, over allegations of sexual harassment. The demonstrators, under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Against Corruption, wielded placards with inscriptions such as “Ekiti Deserves Better” and “Protect Our Women,” insisting that Fasina step aside to allow for an independent investigation. The embattled VC has been under intense scrutiny following the emergence of a leaked voice note in which he allegedly admitted making romantic advances towards…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has uncovered a massive case of certificate fraud, revealing that 142 out of 148 A-level results submitted for Direct Entry admission at Bayero University, Kano, were fake. In its latest weekly bulletin, JAMB disclosed that only six of the results presented to BUK were found to be genuine. The board reaffirmed that one of its primary mandates is to ensure that only valid academic documents are used for university admissions in Nigeria. To curb such fraudulent activities, JAMB established the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS) two years ago, following concerns raised by…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed as false reports circulating on social media that he collapsed at an event in Abuja last week. Speaking on Thursday after inspecting four ongoing projects in the FCT, including the International Conference Centre (ICC), Wike described the reports as the handiwork of “baseless” individuals attempting to score cheap political points. The minister’s response comes amid viral posts on X (formerly Twitter) alleging that he collapsed last Friday during an engagement in the FCT and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. However, Wike categorically debunked the claims, stating that…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi The former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (retd.), has recounted how he narrowly escaped death during his 56-day ordeal in captivity, attributing his survival to divine intervention. Tsiga, who was abducted alongside nine other residents from his hometown, Tsiga, in the Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State on February 5, was reunited with his family in Abuja on Thursday. The reunion, facilitated by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also saw 18 other victims regain freedom. Speaking on his harrowing experience, Tsiga said surviving the terrorists’ den was nothing short…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District has declared her intention to soon provide evidence of sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, asserting her readiness to disclose details “at the right time and space.” Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the importance of presenting her evidence, despite the delayed response, following the rejection of a petition for her recall by the electoral umpire INEC. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan further expressed satisfaction with INEC’s decision, considering it a step in the right direction. She reiterated her determination to substantiate her claims against Senator Akpabio,…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that a significant majority of corruption cases it investigates relate to the misappropriation of funds earmarked for critical sectors such as healthcare and infrastructure. This revelation was made by the Chairman of ICPC, Musa Aliyu (SAN), during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Thursday. Aliyu emphasized that the commission’s investigations have revealed alarming trends where over 60% of corruption cases at the local government level involve the diversion of public resources intended for vital projects. Speaking at the event to introduce ICPC’s Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme…

Two men were on Thursday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly exhuming a female corpse from a cemetery and dismembering the body for ritual purposes. The defendants, Ridwan Bello, 42, also known as ‘Asalailu,’ and Fatai Adeleke, 70, were charged with conspiracy, unlawful possession of human parts, interference with the dead, and breach of public peace. According to the prosecutor, ASP Foluke Adedosu, the accused, along with others who remain at large, conspired to commit the crime. She alleged that on March 18, around 3:00 a.m., Bello was found in possession of human…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have slipped out of Africa’s top five football teams in the latest FIFA world rankings, despite moving up one spot globally to 43rd. According to the rankings released on Thursday, Nigeria lost its place as the fifth-best team on the continent, falling to sixth, as AFCON 2023 winners Ivory Coast climbed five places to 41st globally, overtaking the Eagles. The ranking reflects Nigeria’s inconsistent performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they sit fourth in Group C with just seven points from six matches. Their latest outing—a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe—further dampened their chances…

Daud Olatunji The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the recall petition against the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the petition failed to meet the constitutional requirement. In a statement issued on Thursday, April 3, 2025, INEC revealed that after reviewing the signatures and thumbprints submitted by petitioners, the total count stood at 208,132, which represents 43.86% of the 474,554 registered voters in the senatorial district. The statement said this falls short of the required 237,278 signatures needed for a valid recall, making the petition ineligible for further action under Section 69(a) of the 1999…