Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Jelili Gbadamosi Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Abuja Zonal Command arrested 37(Thirty-Seven) suspected internet fraudsters. The commission disclosed this through its X handle, saying, the suspects  were arrested on Wednesday March 6th, at Jahi, Dawaki and Gwarimpa axes of Abuja following actionable intelligence about their activities. The commission said Items recovered from the suspects include six vehicles, 20 laptops, 66 mobile phones, six international passports and 1 Apple wristwatch. It added that they will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Jelili Gbadamosi SSANU and NASU have declared a seven-day warning strike over their salaries, which were withheld during the 2022 nationwide strike.  The decision was reached at a joint action committee meeting held in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, over the weekend.  SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, explained on Monday that the unions resorted to the warning strike after numerous protest letters and communications with the Federal Government yielded no results. Ibrahim stated, “If nothing is done by the Federal Government to positively address this situation and respond to our previous letters to them, the members of the two unions…

Seven persons have sustained injuries in a gas explosion at a steel company located in the Ogijo area of Sagamu Local Government Area in Ogun State. The incident which occured on Sunday prompted the Ogun State Government to swiftly order the closure of Phoenix Steel Mills. Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, conducted an on-the-spot assessment at the scene, declaring the immediate closure of the iron rod manufacturing company.  The explosion reportedly impacted the entire production line of the facility. Oresanya added that under the state’s engagement guidelines with industries, the government is set to conduct a comprehensive investigation into…

Jamiu Folarin  The federal government paid over seven billion eight million naira (N7.8 billion) to the Abuja Electricity Development Company (AEDC) to settle electricity bills of ministries, departments and agencies located within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja between 2019 and 2023. Out of the N7.8 billion, the State House popularly referred to as Aso Rock or Presidential Villa paid N750 million between 2020 and 2023. Domicile in the State House are the offices of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other top presidential appointees. ICIR had reported that AEDC on Monday threatened…

By Raheem Ajayi Leadership defined by integrity, character and competence is critical to institutional strengthening and effective governance. The appointment of Gbenga Alade as the new Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is yet another proof that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the ideal of fixing round pegs in round holes in the overriding interest of the country. Without doubt, Mr. Alade’s verifiable record of excellent performance in the financial sector offers a fresh breath of air at AMCON. A first-class graduate of the University of Lagos (and a masters degree from same university) with…

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has officially announced that Monday, March 11, 2024, will mark the commencement of the Ramadan fast in Nigeria. The declaration was made by Sultan Abubakar in Sokoto on Sunday during a radio and television broadcast, where he revealed the sighting of the new crescent moon.  Reports of the moon sighting were received from various parts of the country, including inputs from Muslim leaders and Islamic organizations. “After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and states committees’…

Folorunsho Alakija, Nigeria’s wealthiest woman, and her husband, Modupe Alakija, have decided to part ways after over three decades of marriage. According to TheWill’s report, the couple, who once shared a lavish home in Ikoyi, Lagos, no longer reside together. Allegedly, the high-profile duo has been embroiled in frequent disputes, leading Folorunsho Alakija to demand increased privacy within their matrimonial home. Folorunsho Alakija married Modupe Alakija in November 1976 and  reside in Lagos, Nigeria, with their four sons. In response, her husband sought accommodation elsewhere, reportedly residing alone within the same affluent Ikoyi neighborhood. Sources suggest that the couple, parents…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given a stern ultimatum to Dr. Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), demanding the immediate restoration of over 40 million blocked mobile lines or face legal action. In a letter dated March 9, 2024, and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged the NCC CEO to revoke the allegedly unlawful directive that led to the blocking of phone lines for millions of Nigerians who linked their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NINs). SERAP emphasized that the directive violates citizens’ rights to…

The Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), is demanding swift compensation for the families of seven indigent Nigerians who lost their lives in a tragic stampede during a rice distribution event in Lagos. In a stern warning issued on Sunday, ASCAB threatens legal action against the Nigeria Customs Service if their plea goes unanswered. Falana emphasized the urgency for the Nigeria Customs Service to identify and compensate the bereaved families promptly. Should their advice be disregarded, ASCAB vows to take the matter to the Federal High Court, citing violations of the fundamental…

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to return confiscated food items seized at border communities to their rightful owners. The announcement was made by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a meeting in Katsina with residents from border areas at Kongolam and Mai’Adua stations. President Tinubu’s decision, as conveyed by Adeniyi, comes not from legal requirements but from a genuine desire to extend goodwill to Nigeria. However, there’s a condition attached: the owners must be willing to sell the items in Nigerian markets. Adeniyi stated, “He has directed that those food items seized at…