Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced an investigation into allegations that a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, spent about $7m on the education of his children in Switzerland, funds believed to be beyond his legitimate earnings. PLATFORM TIMES gathered on Saturday that the probe followed a fresh petition submitted to the anti-graft agency by the Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, accusing Ahmed of abuse of office and unlawful expenditure of public funds. A senior EFCC official familiar with the matter confirmed the development but said the commission…

Federal civil servants across ministries, departments and agencies have expressed deep frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to pay outstanding arrears of the N35,000 wage award, describing their living conditions as the worst in years amid rising inflation and cost of living. Some of the workers, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, said the continued delay in settling the three months’ arrears, amounting to N105,000 per worker,  had worsened hardship and eroded confidence in government assurances. “The condition of government workers has never been this bad,” said Ibrahim Abbas, a civil servant in one of the federal ministries.…

Operatives of the Department of State Services on Friday rearrested Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, following what security sources described as an attempt to secretly move him out of custody. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that court bailiffs from the Federal High Court had earlier arrived at the facility with fully processed bail documents to secure Abdulaziz’s release. However, sources within the prison said the former AGF allegedly insisted that his son be taken out quietly without the standard release procedures. Security agencies had reportedly placed…

The Federal Government has filed a three-count criminal charge against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, over alleged forgery and use of false documents in a contentious property case in the United Kingdom. The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026, was filed on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation. According to the charge sheet, Ozekhome allegedly presented forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged refusal to account for billions of naira spent annually as security votes, amid worsening insecurity across the country. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/95/2026, filed last Friday, SERAP is asking the court to compel the governors and the FCT minister to publicly disclose how security votes collected since May 29, 2023, have been spent, including details of projects funded, their implementation status and completion, as well as concrete plans to strengthen…

A notorious drug trafficking kingpin who had been on the run for more than a decade has been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), authorities confirmed on Saturday. The suspect, whose name was withheld for operational reasons, was tracked and apprehended following months of intelligence-led operations across multiple states, bringing to an end a 12-year manhunt linked to one of the deadliest attacks on anti-narcotics officers in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the NDLEA, the suspect allegedly masterminded the ambush of its officers during a raid on a…

The Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), Ogun State chapter, has appointed Honourable (Chief) Olalekan Alex Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, as its new Chairman. His emergence followed resolutions reached at the state congress of the association held at the weekend, a decision later ratified by the National Congress of FIBAN in Ibadan on Sunday, January 18, 2026, giving full constitutional backing to the new leadership. The ratification took place in the presence of key national stakeholders, including members of the outgoing National Working Committee led by Comrade Taiwo Adebayo-Gold and other respected leaders of the association…

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a syndicate allegedly responsible for the brutal killing of a woman, with the deceased’s nephew identified as the ringleader of the group. According to the police, the prime suspect, Umar Auwalu, confessed to masterminding the murder and leading the gang that carried out the attack. He reportedly admitted that the same group was behind other violent crimes in parts of Kano, including the killing and burning of two housewives in Tudun Yola Quarters. Items recovered from the suspects include four blood-stained clothes, two mobile phones belonging to the deceased, a cutlass, a club…

Excellence rarely comes without sacrifice, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. For Sulaimon Odebode Titilope, graduating from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, with a First Class and as one of the Best Graduating Students was the culmination of years of focus, determination, and faith. In an exclusive interview with PLATFORM TIMES, he shares the personal journey, the lessons learned, and the mindset that shaped his remarkable academic achievement. KOREDE BADMUS brings us the story behind the accolades. Congratulations on your first-class degree! Please introduce yourself. Thank you. I am Sulaimon Odebode Titilope, a recent graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University,…

… Sources Say Political Survival, Not Gross Misconduct, Drives Assembly’s Move …Return Tickets For Next Election Reportedly Key Condition for Truce Daud Olatunji Rivers State may be inching closer to a political truce as Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, separately held talks with a reconciliation panel set up by the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) amid renewed threats of impeachment against the governor and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. The seven-member panel, led by former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), first met Wike in Abuja last Thursday before engaging…