Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ogun State Chapter, has accused successive administrations in the state of marginalising Muslims in political and administrative appointments despite their large population. The allegation was contained in a statement jointly signed by the state chairman of MURIC, Alhaji Tajudeen  Alao, and secretary, Alhaji Olaleye Rasheed, and made available to PLATFORM TIMES journalists on Thursday. According to the group, since the creation of Ogun State in 1976, only one Muslim — former Governor Ibikunle Amosun — has governed the state, while key appointments across successive governments, including the present administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, have allegedly…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its branches nationwide to convene congresses to deliberate on the outcome of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, amid renewed tension over the Federal Government’s refusal to renegotiate the 2009 agreement. The union said it would not make the Abuja meeting’s resolutions public until members across its branches have been duly briefed by their chairpersons. ASUU had earlier threatened fresh industrial action if the government failed to address its demands by August 28, warning that it would no longer watch the education sector suffer neglect. The demands include…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Tuesday arraigned three defendants before the Lagos State High Court over alleged forgery, land grabbing and forceful takeover of property in Ikeja. Those arraigned include Julius Eshiet, Al-Trade Agencies Limited, and Alabi Collins, a director at the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. They are facing a 13-count charge before Justice Idowu of High Court 55, Ikeja. The disputed property is located at Block C, Plots 30 and 37, also known as No. 6 Ajisafe Street, GRA, Ikeja. Prosecuting counsel, Rotshang Dimka, told the court that the case followed a July 1,…

… Minister Says Punitive Laws Fuel Stigma, Worsen Suffering … Bill To Amend Mental Health Act Heads To FEC The Federal Government has announced December 2025 as the deadline to complete the process of decriminalising attempted suicide in Nigeria, describing the move as urgent in light of worsening economic realities driving mental health crises across the country. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day themed “Changing the Narrative on Suicide, Creating Hope Through Action.” Pate, represented by the ministry’s…

The Nigeria Football Federation has disowned a press statement that openly criticised Super Eagles players following their 1-1 draw against South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The controversial release, issued by the Federation’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, had singled out striker Cyriel Dessers and captain William Troost-Ekong. Dessers was described as “sluggish” while Ekong was faulted for scoring the own goal that gave Bafana Bafana the lead in Johannesburg. But NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in a swift reaction on Wednesday, dismissed the statement as “unauthorised” and “unrepresentative” of the body’s position. “I saw the…

Hundreds of commuters across Lagos State were left stranded on Tuesday morning as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses failed to arrive at several key terminals, forcing many workers to get to their offices late. The disruption, which affected terminals at Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Egba, Ikotun and Akowonjo, left passengers standing in long queues for hours with only a handful of buses available. As early as 7:15am, commuters had gathered in their numbers at the Iyana-Ipaja terminus, but by 9:20am many were still on the queue with no buses in sight. The situation sparked frustration as workers worried about missing crucial office hours…

Power supply was restored in Abuja and parts of Lagos on Wednesday evening after Nigeria’s national grid collapsed earlier in the day, throwing several cities across the country into darkness. The collapse, which occurred around 11:30 am, disrupted electricity supply to multiple distribution companies (DisCos), including those serving Port Harcourt, Jos, Yola, and other regions that, as of press time, were still without power. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) confirmed the incident in a public notice on its official handle, attributing the blackout to a “loss of supply from the national grid at 11:23 am.” The company assured customers…

Fresh tension has engulfed Ipetumodu town in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State as princes from two rival ruling houses clash over the throne of the Apetumodu following the conviction of the incumbent monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede, in the United States. Oba Oloyede, the 27th Apetumodu, was recently sentenced to over four years in prison for COVID-19 loan fraud, alongside an order to forfeit assets and pay more than $4.4 million in restitution. The monarch’s conviction has deepened a decades-long rivalry between the Aribile and Fagbemokun royal lineages, both of whom are laying claim to the vacant stool.…

The former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, on Wednesday, left the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after hours of questioning over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure. Kyari, who arrived at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja around 2:15 pm, was grilled on suspicious transactions linked to four bank accounts already frozen by court order. Speaking briefly to journalists after the interrogation, the ex-NNPCL boss declared: “I have done my part; the EFCC must do theirs. When each of us does our duty—without fear or favour, with honour, respect,…

A South African court has sentenced two Nigerian women and their South African accomplice to prison for running a brothel used in trafficking young girls into sex slavery. The convicts — Patience Precious Abudu (35), Success Egabor (42), and Nontobeko Mathunjwa (36) — were sentenced by the Plettenberg Bay Regional Court on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, after pleading guilty to charges bordering on human trafficking, operating a brothel, and living off the proceeds of prostitution. Their sentencing followed a sting operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), with support from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. The suspects…