Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A Member of the House of Representatives for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, and an anti-corruption crusader, Ikenga  Ugochinyere,has denied allegations that he bribed the  Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas with $1.7 million to secure his position as House Committee Chairman on Downstream Petroleum.  Ugochinyere described the claims as absurd fabrications by “scared oil thieves and their errand agents” aimed at diverting attention from deep-seated corruption in Nigeria’s oil sector. In a statement released by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Njesi, and.made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Wednesday, Ugochinyere asserted that the accusations were…

The Seventh SixthSense Summer Children Reading Camp has announced plans to honour two distinguished supporters of the initiative: His Royal Majesty Oba Professor Saka Matemilola FNSE Otileta VII, Olowu Oluyalo of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, and Nobel Laureate Professor Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the honours come as part of the camp’s efforts to foster a love for reading among children. A statement released  by Founder and Coordinator of The SixthSense Initiative, Abiodun Lasile  to PLATFORM TIMES stated that the  camp, which officially opened on Sunday, August 4th, will run until Saturday, August 10th, 2024. The statement further stated…

By Jeff Godwin Doki Ph. D Oedipus Rex, that Greek mythology which has been popularised by Sophocles and Nigeria’s Ola Rotimi, presents to us a king who has demonstrated abundantly that a ruler cannot command everything. In that play, we are dealing with a contrast between the supreme will of the gods and the vain attempts of mankind to escape the evil that threatens them. Destined by the gods to kill his father and marry his mother, all of Oedipus’efforts to avoid that prophecy only reveal his own impotence as a human being. But most importantly, the lesson we learn…

The 19 northern governors of Nigeria, led by Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State, are set to commence urgent discussions on the region’s burgeoning birth rate, which Muftwang has described as a “time bomb.”  The governor sounded the alarm on the severe lack of infrastructure for human capital development, which he warned could exacerbate banditry and terrorism in the region. Speaking on a  Television’s programme on Tuesday, Muftwang criticised the northern elite for their neglect of the local youth.  He highlighted the disparity between the elite, who send their children to prestigious schools both locally and internationally, and the vulnerable…

The Media Office of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has vehemently denied allegations linking him to the ongoing #Endbadgovernance protests across Nigeria.  In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Michael Ohiare, the office dismissed the claims as part of a calculated effort by adversaries to tarnish Bello’s reputation. The statement, which was made available to journalists in Lokoja, described the allegations as part of a “high-wired plan” by disgruntled elements and those involved in what it termed the “Project Bring Down Yahaya Bello.”  It said these groups are attempting to falsely accuse Bello of sponsoring the…

No fewer than 4,877 victims of human trafficking from Nigeria have voluntarily returned to the country since 2017, a report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has revealed.  The victims, repatriated under the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, highlight the persistent challenges posed by human trafficking and irregular migration. The report disclosed that women and girls constituted nearly 88 per cent (4,261) of the returnees, while men accounted for 13 per cent (616).  This alarming gender disparity underscores the vulnerability of women and girls to traffickers, particularly those within the age bracket of 18 to 39…

Justice T. N. Nzeukwu of the Imo State High Court has sentenced Desmond Eke, the founder of Deliverance Ministry of the Good Shepherd in Umuehieta Avu, Owerri West Local Government Area, to eight years imprisonment for raping a member’s wife. The court found Eke guilty of exploiting the trust placed in him by the victim, a member of his congregation, who was in a vulnerable state.  Eke faced three charges, including rape and administering a stupefying substance to the victim, rendering her dizzy and weak.  The prosecution counsel, Chioma Emuka, detailed how Eke took advantage of the woman in her…

The Federal Government  has disbursed a total of N1.03tn to combat insecurity and terrorism from January to June 2024, according to a budget implementation report obtained through Open Treasury, a website monitoring government spending.  This expenditure represents 42.80 percent of the allocated N2.41tn for security, leaving a balance of N1.38tn. Despite this significant investment, the first seven months of 2024 have seen devastating security challenges.  Data from Beacon Consulting, an indigenous intelligence outfit, revealed that 5,801 Nigerians were killed, and 4,348 were abducted in terrorist attacks across the nation.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that these  incidents occurred in 574 Local Government…

A tragic incident of suspected food poisoning has struck Anyoke in Okunchi Ward of Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State, resulting in the death of six individuals, while another similar incident in Eruda community, Olorun West Local Government Area, Kwara State, has claimed the lives of four more. PLATFORM TIMES reports that in Kogi State, the  State Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Division was alerted by the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO) following the deaths.  It was gathered that initial investigations indicate that the fatalities followed the consumption of cassava flour from a suspected contaminated source.  The Kogi State Commissioner…

The Council of Baale, Abeokuta North Local Government, has indefinitely suspended Quadri Kudaisi, the Baale of Idiya, amid serious allegations of land grabbing and misconduct. The Council issued a suspension letter dated July 31, 2024, detailing the reasons for this  action.  The letter, referenced as OG/SCB/AKM/091/24, was jointly signed by the Chairman of the Council and Baale Onisasa, Oyejide Jelili Adio, and the General Secretary and Baale Sangote, Adetola Jelili.  The communication was disseminated to key stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State Police Commissioner, Egba Traditional Council of Baale’s, and other relevant authorities. The…