Author: Platform Times Newspaper

An  Ado-Ekiti magistrates court  has remanded Kayode Seun and Godwin Festus in custody following the allegation of conspiracy, fraud, cybercrime, and attempting to bribe police officers. Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, acting as the prosecutor, presented compelling evidence before the court, warranting the remand of Seun and Festus.  Allegations include their involvement in a conspiracy to commit fraud, with authorities also uncovering a Mercedes Benz CLA car believed to be stolen in their possession. Furthermore, it was revealed that on April 22, 2024, at 11 am in Ikere-Ekiti, the defendants attempted to offer a staggering sum of N485,000 as a bribe to…

In a bid to stem the outflow of capital and bolster the local economy, the Benue State Government is set to inaugurate its indigenous brewery, targeting the staggering N850 million monthly expenditure on beer within the state. Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company, revealed the ambitious venture during a briefing with journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday.  The brewery, along with accompanying water and bakery factories, is poised to revolutionize the region’s beverage industry. Asemakaha emphasized the pivotal role of the brewery in halting the financial drain caused by the substantial consumption of beer, which sees…

The House of Representatives has taken summoned  major cement manufacturers including Dangote Cement, BUA Cement, Lafarge Cement, Asaka Cement, and Eagle Cement to appear before its joint committee within 14 days over  the recent surge in cement prices. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  summons came during a public hearing led by Rep. Gaza Gbefwi, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, as part of the ongoing investigation into the arbitrary increase in cement prices in Nigeria.  The House had previously moved a motion on March 13, 2024, to address this issue, leading to the formation of a Joint Committee…

Amid mounting speculation over the whereabouts of President Bola Tinubu, the Presidency has stepped forward to address concerns, firmly stating that Tinubu’s absence from the country is not due to medical reasons. Tinubu’s prolonged absence following his attendance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Saudi Arabia has raised eyebrows, prompting questions about his health and whereabouts. However, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, swiftly addressed the speculations, affirming that Tinubu’s absence is unrelated to any medical issues. In a recent appearance on Television programme,  Minister Alausa said  the government’s focus on developing a robust healthcare…

In a chilling revelation, a “repentant” Boko Haram member disclosed on Tuesday that Leah Sharibu, the forgotten schoolgirl from Yobe State, Nigeria, has been married to not one, but two Boko Haram leaders.  Among them is Ali Abdallah, now serving as the chief judge of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Lake Chad basin. Sharibu, a Christian girl, was among the 110 female students abducted on February 19, 2018, from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, by the Boko Haram terrorist group. According to the ex-fighter, Sharibu’s first husband, Abdulrahman, was killed in…

In a dramatic turn of events, Jacob Alone, a 58-year-old fugitive who made headlines in 2020 for the heinous crime of raping and impregnating his own daughter, has been apprehended by the Edo State Police Command after his escape from Benin prison during the #EndSARS protest. PLATFORM TIMES reports that Alone’s dark saga began in 2020 when he was initially arrested for the rape and defilement of his daughter.  Shockingly, the abuse resulted in his daughter’s pregnancy.  Despite the gravity of his crime, Alone managed to evade justice temporarily. Tragedy struck when, during the course of his trial, the victim,…

The legal fraternity in Nigeria is grappling with the harsh realities of economic hardship, as highlighted by legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola during the 13th edition of the Annual Aare Afe Babalola Public Bar Lecture.  The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), voiced concerns over the deteriorating financial status of lawyers, once considered prosperous professionals. Babalola lamented the adverse effects of Nigeria’s battered economy, which he said has pushed lawyers below the subsistence level.  He attributed this downward spiral to a myriad of factors, including the agrarian nature of many states, inadequate infrastructure such as poor roads and lack…

Prominent Islamic scholars have  highlighted political and economic disparities, alongside corruption, as significant factors driving the rise of violent Islamic movements across Sub-Saharan Africa.  The discussion, streamed on various social media platforms, television, and online radio stations, featured distinguished scholars with expertise in Islam in Africa. Addressing the theme “Islam in Africa,” during the  Toyin Falola Interview Series, Professor Cheikh Anta Babou from the University of Pennsylvania stated  the evolving nature of Islamic radicalism in the region.  He argued that contemporary Islamic movements are more influenced by political and economic circumstances than religious doctrine, noting the disillusionment of former Marxist…

I had my first period when I was 11 years old. I knew what was happening from science classes at school and had known to expect it at any time. But I remember a deep sense of shame – one I couldn’t quite rationalise. I hid it from my mother, using countless amounts of toilet paper until I knew I couldn’t hide it any more. About a year later, I was walking from school with a boy whom I used to be friends with. He started laughing at me. Not just laughing, but howling. He pointed to the back of…

Daud Olatunji A  coalition comprising 259 anti-corruption, civil society, and human rights groups, known as the Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER), has accused members of the Northern elite group of attempting to instigate a crisis in Nigeria.  This accusation comes in response to claims made by the Northern elites regarding a purported plan by the Bola Tinubu-led administration to allow the relocation of United States of America and French military bases from Francophone West African countries to Nigeria. COTER, through its President, Dr. Peter China Chukwu, and General Secretary, Mallam Auta Ibrahim Koko, released a statement condemning the…