Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, famously known as Evans, along with his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, charged with murder and attempted kidnapping, have opted for a plea bargain. This decision was revealed by the state lead counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, during a court session on Thursday before Justice Adenike Cokers of an Ikeja High Court. The case, which was called for re-arraignment, was expected to see Evans and his co-defendant face an amended five-count charge, including charges related to murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit felony (specifically, kidnapping), and attempt to murder. However, Mr. Sule informed the court that the defendants…

The Delta State Police Command has apprehended five suspects involved in various criminal activities, including kidnapping, robbery, and cultism. The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, disclosed this during the parade. Bright said the arrests were made following diligent investigations and collaborative efforts between police operatives and the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja. One of the notable arrests is that of 20-year-old Yakubu Ya’u, who was identified as the mastermind behind several kidnapping incidents in the Warri axis. Despite residing in Kaduna, Ya’u frequently targeted unsuspecting residents in Oha and Ughwagba Communities in Okpe LGA, with the…

The Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) has removed  the name of Amina Bello, wife of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, from the list of nominees for appointment as judges of the High Court of Kogi State. This move comes after seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) filed a lawsuit against the NJC and the Kogi State government, challenging Amina’s inclusion in the list. The lawsuit, filed on January 8 with Suit No: FCT/ABJ/CS/05/2024, argued that the selection process violated constitutional principles of fairness, equity, and merit. The plaintiffs, including Chief Yunus Ustaz Usman and J.S. Okutepa, highlighted…

Learning to read is not a job designed for teachers and tutors alone. It’s innate, just like every other developmental stage such as speech, culture, walking etc. I remember how my mom would make my uncle read the caption on the news before it goes off. It taught him speed and comprehension.Also, back in the days when we used to have a stall at Aswani market, after a very hectic day of buying and selling, we would be inside the public transport and my mom would make me read all the signposts and billboards.She would always tell me that…

Daud Olatunji  The Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a scathing attack on the state governor, Dapo Abiodun,  accusing his government  of evading responsibility and failing to address the deteriorating infrastructure surrounding the Wole Soyinka Railway Station in Abeokuta. In a statement released on Thursday, by the state Publicity Secretary,  the PDP condemned what it described as the government’s habitual practice of shifting blame instead of taking decisive action. The controversy erupted when the Ogun State government asserted that it required approval from federal authorities before embarking on any rehabilitation works on the…

Daud Olatunji In a fervent plea for vigilance and national unity, Comrade Afiyo Elliot, the National President of the Northern Youth Leader’s Forum (NYLF), sounded the alarm regarding purported negotiations between the Nigerian government and foreign powers to relocate military bases to Nigerian soil. Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday, Elliot expressed grave concerns over the potential ramifications of such a move, particularly amidst what he described as surreptitious attempts to erode Nigeria’s democratic principles and institutions. Elliot accused the government of appeasement towards the United States and France due to Nigeria’s perceived inability to mobilize the…

In a bid to alleviate the financial burden on Nigerian Muslims undertaking the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, the Nigerian Government has reportedly subsidized the pilgrimage cost with a whopping sum of N90 billion.  Vice-President Kashim Shettima made this announcement during the inauguration of the 2024 National Hajj operation at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi. Shettima highlighted the challenges encountered in determining the final Hajj fare for 2024, citing fluctuating foreign exchange rates as a major obstacle. However, he praised President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to stabilize the local currency, which contributed to reducing the…

A suburb in Kubwa, Byhazin, witnessed scenes of chaos and violence as a group of hoodlums launched an attack on residents, leaving many injured.  The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, stemmed from an attempted theft by scavengers, locally known as Bababola, who tried to steal a pot of food from a roadside restaurant at Millionaires Quarters. According to eyewitnesses, the restaurant owner raised the alarm upon sighting the scavengers, prompting passersby and customers to intervene and apprehend the suspects. Although the scavengers managed to escape being lynched, the thwarted theft angered them, leading to a retaliatory…

 The Yobe State government has adopted approach against  against the incessant destruction of electricity towers in some parts of the state by Boko Haram terrorists. PLATFORM TIMES reports that  the hoodlums  had been targeting the towers which connected Yobe and Borno states to the national grid in recent times. The state governor, Mai Mala Buni led a crowd of Muslim clerics to recite the Holy Quran and pray to God to punish the insurgents who destroyed the towers. PLATFORM TIMES learnt that the  towers are part of the Jos – Gombe grid serving Borno and Yobe states…

Daud Olatunji Negotiations over the National Minimum Wage between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Federal Government on Wednesday,  hit a snag. This development resulted  in the withdrawal of the labour unions from the negotiation table. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  stalemate arose from the government’s proposal of a reduced minimum wage of N48,000, a figure vehemently opposed by the unions. The unions in a statement released shortly after the botched meeting expressed deep disappointment. The NLC and TUC criticized the government’s perceived lack of seriousness in engaging in reasonable…