Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a recent development at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, and his co-defendants have sought an out-of-court settlement amidst their ongoing trial for alleged involvement in a ₦12.3 billion fraud case. The trial judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, dismissed the preliminary objections filed by the defendants, asserting that the case should proceed. The objections, which sought to halt the trial, were overruled as the court maintained its stance that such applications should not impede criminal proceedings at this stage. Following the dismissal, defence counsel, led by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, requested an adjournment to explore…

Ayomide Awe A land dispute is brewing in Ipokia, Ogun State, following the alleged sale of the revered Oro sacred forest by a section of the Elemosanyin family without the consent of other family members. The forest, considered significant in Oro worship, was reportedly sold by the Omolegbe section of the family, a move that has sparked outrage among other stakeholders. In preparation for construction activities, trees within the forest—believed to provide cover for the Oro deity—were allegedly felled, further deepening tensions. A prominent member of the family, Prince Samuel Olawin, has strongly condemned the sale, warning that any buyer…

Daud Olatunji Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called out billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote for a public debate over allegations that the Dangote Group’s factory in Itori was demolished twice under his administration. In a strongly worded statement signed by his media aide, Lanre Akinwale, Amosun dismissed Dangote’s claims, describing them as tactics of manipulation and intimidation. He also accused the businessman of attempting to operate above the law, challenging him to present official approvals for the structures he claimed were destroyed. Amosun argued that governance operates through established Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, which regulate physical developments, including…

Residents of several communities in Remo North, Ogun State, have heaved a sigh of relief following the intervention of their representative in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Kolawole Dickson Awolaja, who has spearheaded efforts to restore electricity after prolonged blackouts. For months, communities across the constituency grappled with power outages caused by faulty transformers and damaged electrical infrastructure, crippling businesses and daily life. However, Hon. Awolaja, leveraging his position as Chairman of the House Committee on Community and Cooperative Society and Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy, stepped in to address these challenges head-on.…

Daud Olatunji A socio-political group, Ogun West Initiative, has called for the concession of the Ogun State governorship ticket to Ogun West Senatorial District in 2027, insisting that the move is necessary to correct decades of political marginalization and spur economic development in the region. The convener of the group, Mr. Bolaji Adeniji, made this assertion during a press briefing on Monday, March 17, 2027, stressing that Ogun West has waited 49 years since the creation of the state without producing a governor, despite its economic contributions. According to Adeniji, the demand is not based on sentiments or a mere…

Balkis Adeniji The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended Ndifreke Isaiah Nelson, aged 32, in connection with the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Emem Monday Effanga, aged 39, and the subsequent theft of her mobile phone. The incident, which occurred in February 2025, sent shockwaves through the community of Uyo, where Effanga was found lifeless in her apartment, bearing visible signs of violence on her face and neck. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John, Nelson was traced to a local church following extensive intelligence operations. “Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered clear indications…

Daud Olatunji No fewer than 26,000 children and young persons under 21 years old are thrown into correctional facilities in Nigeria every year, with a staggering 74% of them languishing in custody without trial, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed. This shocking statistic was disclosed at the second public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption, Abuse of Power, Torture, and Degrading Treatment against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), held on Friday in Abuja. Stakeholders, including the National Judicial Council (NJC), UNICEF, and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, made a strong case for rehabilitation over…

Nigeria has recorded 23 new suspected cases of diphtheria in the 10th epidemiological week of 2025, with Lagos State emerging as the most affected, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported. According to the latest situation report, Lagos accounted for 20 cases, while Katsina State recorded three. The surge in infections in Lagos follows the outbreak at King’s College Lagos, where 14 students were infected and one fatality was recorded. Following the outbreak, the Lagos State Government launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting students and staff. Most of the infected students are receiving treatment at the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has announced the recovery of N365.4 billion and the successful prosecution of 4,111 cases in 2024. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Saturday at the conclusion of a three-day retreat for the commission’s directors in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The retreat, themed “EFCC: The Journey So Far, Ensuring Professionalism and Integrity,” focused on strategies to enhance efficiency and public trust in the agency’s operations. According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Olukoyede attributed the commission’s achievements to the dedication and sacrifices of its personnel. He assured that within the next…

Troops of Operation Fansa Yamma have neutralised at least 31 bandits in two separate operations in Katsina State, dealing a significant blow to criminal elements terrorising the region. In the first operation at Maigora village in Faskari Local Government Area, soldiers engaged the bandits in combat, eliminating 12 of them, including a notorious commander identified as Dogo. Seven motorcycles used by the criminals were also seized. The confrontation initially led to the death of five bandits after they attacked the village. However, when the insurgents regrouped and launched a counteroffensive, military forces responded with superior firepower, killing seven more. In…