Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji A legal battle is brewing ahead of the Ogun State local government elections as a lawyer and chairmanship aspirant for Sagamu Local Government Area, Prince Adebayo Ogunmeno, has taken the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) to court over the selection of the party’s candidate for the November 16 polls. In a suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogunmeno is seeking an order to compel OGSIEC to remove the name of Afolabi Jubril Odulate, the APC’s chairmanship candidate for Sagamu, from the ballot. He alleges that the ruling party unilaterally…

Daud Olatunji In commemoration of the 2024 World Teachers’ Day, the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) in Ogun State, on Friday, called for improved welfare of the teachers in the state and Nigeria. The World Teacher’s Day holds every October 5, to mark the global celebration of teachers. Speaking with PLATFORM TIMES after the service held at the Sahadatul Abbadiyyah Central Mosque, Abeokuta. The ASUSS Chairman in Ogun State, Dr. Comrade  Oluwaeeun Agbesanwa who was accompanied to the service by the Trade Union Congress Chairman in the state, Akeem Lasisi , the Secretary of the Road Transport…

The Nigerian military has reported the recovery of N793 million worth of stolen crude oil and the neutralisation of 118 terrorists within the past week. This announcement came from the Defence Headquarters in a statement issued on Friday by Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations. According to the statement, troops deployed to the South-South region, particularly in the Niger Delta, successfully seized 602,200 litres of stolen crude oil, 64,900 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 12,690 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during several operations. In addition, 18 suspected oil thieves were apprehended,…

The Kano State Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) has shut down four medicine patent facilities in Rogo Local Government Area for operating illegally and failing to comply with the agency’s regulations. This action is part of ongoing efforts to sanitize the healthcare sector across the state. The Director General of PHIMA, Professor Salisu Tofa, led a team of inspectors on Friday to the affected facilities, where various breaches of healthcare laws were discovered. Represented by a Director at the agency, Abdussalam Zarewa, Prof. Tofa emphasized that the exercise was crucial to ensuring the proper regulation of health services in…

In a powerful address at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Report Women Programme in Lagos, former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba has emphasized the critical role women play in Nigeria’s battle against corruption and injustice. The event, organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, served as a platform to highlight the importance of women’s leadership and representation in the media and society. Mr. Osoba, who served as governor from 1999 to 2003, lamented the historical marginalization of women’s voices, stating, “For too long, we’ve overlooked the voices…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has sought the assistance of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to track down two Nigerian nationals accused of defrauding American healthcare providers of $13 million through a sophisticated online scheme. The suspects, Babatunde Shodiya and Yinka Jamiu, have been indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota for orchestrating a fraudulent operation that spanned over four years, from 2020 to 2024. According to sources familiar with the case, the FBI reached out to the EFCC, urging Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agency to locate and apprehend the suspects, who are…

Patricia Adenike Balogun The day I learnt that Nigerians had returned to singing “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as its National Anthem instead of “Arise, O Compatriots” was one of my favourite moments as a Nigerian. During my formative years, I recall reciting the National Anthem (“Nigeria, We Hail Thee”) at school assemblies until it was modified in 1978. Although I didn’t fully comprehend its meaning or intent at the time, the composition and wordings resonated with me in unanticipated ways. In 1978, Nigeria chose “Arise, O Compatriots” as its new national song, and society continued onwards. The reintroduction of the…

Deborah Hundenu In a shocking revelation, former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has publicly admitted to rigging local council elections during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Okocha, who served as Chief of Staff under Amaechi’s leadership between 2007 and 2015, made the startling confession during a televised interview on Channels TV. Okocha’s admission has sparked widespread reactions, with many questioning the integrity of the political processes during Amaechi’s administration. Speaking on the programme, which SaharaReporters monitored on Thursday evening, Okocha stated that he actively participated in election rigging during the…

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, has called for concerted efforts to combat Nigeria’s escalating food crisis. Speaking at the 2024 Annual Colloquium of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ogun State Chapter, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Kehinde emphasized the urgency of galvanizing both public and private sectors to address the growing challenges of food insecurity. At the event themed “Galvanizing Public and Private Stakeholders Toward Addressing Food Crisis in Nigeria: Public Relations as Key Driver,” Kehinde commended NIPR for spotlighting food security, asserting that Public Relations (PR)…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles, as well as imposing fines on motorists. The court ruled that such actions are unlawful and constitute a violation of fundamental rights. Justice Evelyn Maha, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, issued the order following a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Abubakar Marshal. Marshal, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit, argued that the VIO and other respondents had no legal authority to stop vehicles or punish motorists in such a manner.…