Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a momentous celebration of heritage and service, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has bestowed upon Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON), the second highest national honour.  The ceremony, held on Friday, marked the monarch’s 90th birthday anniversary. Tinubu’s speech, delivered by VP Shettima, underscored the profound significance of Oba Adetona’s contributions to his community and the nation at large.  Despite being unable to attend personally due to state duties, President Tinubu expressed his heartfelt admiration for the revered royal father’s enduring…

Daud Olatunji  A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the plea of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to suspend proceedings in the ongoing trial concerning alleged N80.2 billion fraud charges leveled against him.  Bello’s legal team, led by Abdulwahab Mohammed, sought to halt the trial citing an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Court of Appeal.  This appeal was in response to a contempt application filed by Bello against the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukayode. However, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, rebuffed Bello’s application, asserting that it could not be…

 Daud Olatunji In the wake of a scathing report by PLATFORM TIMES revealing the dire state of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, the call for the constitution of a visitation panel has ignited a storm of controversy within the institution and beyond. Published on May 1, 2024, the PLATFORM TIMES special report titled “Disquiet In OOU As Govt. Fails To Constitute Visitation Panel 15 Years After” has sparked mixed reactions, with stakeholders urging the state government to intervene swiftly to save the once-prestigious university from further decay. Investigations conducted by PLATFORM TIMES on the campus revealed a plethora of unresolved…

Former Super Eagles star Ibrahim Babangida has tragically passed away in a fatal automobile accident along the Zaria road.  The incident not only claimed the life of the renowned footballer but also involved his brother Tijani, who served as the president of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN).  Tijani was traveling with his wife, son, and maid at the time of the crash. The news of Babangida’s demise sent shockwaves through the football community and beyond, as tributes poured in for the beloved athlete.  Babangida, known for his exceptional skills on the field, had left an indelible mark on…

Daud Olatunji  Nigerian government has expanded $1.12 billion to  service  external debt, 70 percent  of the total $1.61 billion expended between January and March 2024, according to data sources from the Central Bank of Nigeria. PLATFORM TIMES reports that Nigeria’s financial landscape bears the weight of escalating debt service obligations, with a staggering 70% of its dollar outflow directed towards servicing external debts during the first quarter of 2024.  Data sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that  this surge marks a notable escalation from the previous year, where debt service accounted for a comparatively lower 49% of…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that Nigeria has been grappling with a significant surge in Lassa fever cases, with a staggering 857 confirmed cases and 156 fatalities reported across 28 states of the federation from January to 28 April.  This grim statistic underscores the urgent need for heightened measures to contain the outbreak and mitigate its impact on public health. The latest Lassa fever situation report released by the NCDC highlights the severity of the situation, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.2 per cent recorded during this period, surpassing the 17.0 per cent CFR…

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi  has called  for a paradigm shift in research funding to confront Nigeria’s pressing issues. He stated this in a seminal address during the 89th Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Prof. Akinyemi’s impassioned plea for a dedicated allocation of 500 million Naira by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) aims to bolster multidisciplinary projects across the nation. Delivering his lecture titled “Unraveling the Coupled Heat and Water Flow Phenomenon: My Non-Invasive Voyage into the Subsurface Domains,” Prof. Akinyemi underscored the urgency of fostering…

The Nigerian military’s Operation Hadin Kai has apprehended Lance Corporal Mubarak Yakubu for  suspected involvement in ammunition theft.  The soldier’s arrest, carried out by the 7 Division Military Police K9 Team during a routine search operation at the Borno express Terminal, marks a crucial step in efforts to combat insurgency and maintain security in the region. According to Zagazola Makama, a reliable security source, Lance Corporal Yakubu was intercepted on Thursday, May 9th, 2024, following intelligence reports.  Upon thorough inspection, the soldier was found to be in possession of 756 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition and 4 x 36…

Christopher Oluchukwu, a commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Abbas Bawale of Katsina State High Court 3.  This verdict follows a case brought against Oluchukwu by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), highlighting the grave consequences of employment fraud. Oluchukwu’s conviction stems from allegations of defrauding Nigerian citizens seeking employment opportunities for their children within the NSCDC.  The ICPC revealed that Oluchukwu was found guilty on all nine counts filed against him, relating to the fraudulent collection of funds totaling N900,000…

The Nigerian Senate has endorsed death as a penalty for trafficking in hard drugs and substances in the country.  This legislative move came amidst protests by some lawmakers during the passage of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill 2024. The bill, which also prescribes a maximum of 15 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for conviction on drug consumption, was passed following the adoption of the report by the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Drugs and Narcotics during a plenary session. Chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), presented…