Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday admitted fresh documentary evidence against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) linked him to an alleged $600,000 kickback. Justice Rahman Oshodi overruled objections by the defence team and admitted the additional documents presented by the prosecution as Exhibit G. The documents, according to the EFCC, were obtained directly from the CBN and other sources during investigations into the ongoing $4.5 billion fraud case. During the proceedings, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), continued the examination of an…

Daud Olatunji  Fresh details have emerged about the death of Arise Television news anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, who died during a violent armed robbery attack at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Thursday disclosed that one of the arrested suspects, Sani Sirajo, confessed to attempting to hold the deceased journalist from falling off the storey building but was overpowered by her weight. Maduagwu reportedly plunged from the third floor of Unique Apartments, a 16-flat building, on September 29, during an attack by about 15 armed men, which…

The National Council of State has approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The approval, which was granted during the council’s meeting on Thursday in Abuja, confirms earlier reports that President Bola Tinubu had nominated the Kogi-born legal scholar to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose 10-year tenure ended this month. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced the council’s decision in a statement, noting that President Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the council to fill the vacancy left by Yakubu. Onanuga described…

…Honours Correctional Officers For Excellence, Service To Humanity Uthman Ogunfolaji The African Emerging Leadership, Research and Development Organisation (AELRDO) has applauded the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) for maintaining stability and preventing jailbreaks across custodial centres in the state. Speaking during the organisation’s Prize for Peace and Service to Humanity Award Ceremony held in Abeokuta, the Director of Research, Dr. Rhuefe Khaese, said Ogun remains one of the few states in the federation without any record of jailbreaks — a feat he attributed to the vigilance, professionalism, and discipline of correctional officers. “Ogun State has remained…

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, has called for deeper collaboration between the Corporation and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) to address emerging risks and challenges confronting the nation’s financial system. A statement  issued by Hawwau Gambo, Head of Communication and Public Affairs Department, NDIC and made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Thursday, stated that Sunday made the call when the President and Chairman of Council of the CIBN, Prof. Pius Deji Olanrewaju, led members of his executive team on a courtesy visit to the…

…Aso Rock weighs loyalty, competence in final decision Daud Olatunji  Intense lobbying among political heavyweights has gripped Aso Rock as President Bola Tinubu finalises the appointment of a new chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Barring last-minute adjustments, the President is expected to present his preferred nominee, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to the National Council of State for approval today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Professor Amupitan, a renowned legal scholar and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Jos, hails from Aiyetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. He specialises in Corporate Law, Governance,…

… 19,000 fibre cuts, equipment theft hamper digital drive Nigeria’s ambition to achieve nationwide broadband access by 2025 received a major boost as 11 states have abolished charges on Right-of-Way (RoW) for fibre-optic cable installation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced. The move, according to the NCC, is a significant step toward reducing deployment costs for telecom operators and accelerating internet connectivity across the country. The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, disclosed this on Wednesday at a business roundtable in Abuja, noting that the waiver demonstrates growing collaboration between the federal and state governments to…

Neighbouring West African countries, Benin and Togo, have failed to pay over half of what they owe Nigeria for electricity supplied in the second quarter of 2025, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has revealed. According to the commission’s Second Quarter 2025 Report, six international bilateral customers who receive electricity from Nigeria’s generation companies remitted only $9.01 million out of a total $17.54 million invoice issued by the Market Operator during the period. This leaves an outstanding balance of about $8.53 million, representing a 51.33 per cent remittance performance. A breakdown of the report obtained by PLATFORM TIMES showed that…

A compliance officer with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Abimbola Williams, on Wednesday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama that a total of N640 million was withdrawn from the Kogi State Government account within six days during the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello. Williams, who appeared as the third prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, said the funds were withdrawn through 64 cheques of N10 million each by the then Chief Accountant of the Government House, Abdulsalami Hudu, between July 31 and August 6, 2019. Bello, Hudu, and the Director-General of the Kogi Government House…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerian leaders to intensify efforts to attract both local and international investments, saying such initiatives are key to the nation’s progress and economic sustainability. Obasanjo made the call on Tuesday while commissioning the newly completed Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi State — a multi-purpose facility he described as a “world-class project capable of positioning Bauchi as a major investment and tourism hub.” The former president lauded Governor Bala Mohammed for what he termed “a bold and visionary stride” toward making Bauchi a global destination for investors. “With what we have,…