Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A  group of farmers in Ondo State, operating under the umbrella of the Oluwa Forest Reserve Farmers, has taken the state government to court over the alleged illegal sale of their farmlands.  The disputed land, spanning 2000.482 hectares within the Oluwa Forest Reserve in Odigbo Local Government Area, was reportedly sold to a foreign company, leading to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy and the subsequent displacement of thousands of farmers. The suit, filed at the Ondo State High Court in Ondo town, names the Ondo State Government, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the state Ministry…

Two brothers, Ibrahim Yusuf, 62, and Samaila Yusuf, 48, have been remanded in prison custody for allegedly murdering their 85-year-old father, Yusuf Kwada.  The brothers confessed to the crime, accusing their father of practising witchcraft.  The tragic incident took place in Zah village, Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The Chief Magistrate Court in Yola, presided over by Bilkisu Tijjaji, ordered the remand of the brothers on Wednesday.  During the court session, the brothers admitted to killing their father by striking him on the head with a stick. According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), the incident…

Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu is largely inaccessible to key government officials, including some of his ministers.  Ndume stated this  during an interview with BBC Hausa on Tuesday. Ndume expressed frustration over the federal government’s apparent inaction in addressing the severe food scarcity and escalating cost of living that are currently afflicting many Nigerians.  He noted that members of the National Assembly have been unable to meet with President Tinubu to discuss the critical issues affecting their constituencies. “The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent…

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Tuesday sentenced three men to death by hanging for the murder of a corps member, Mukaila Adebayo. The convicted individuals, Jelili Kareem, a herbal seller; Oludayo Oludele, a commercial motorcyclist; and Muyiwa Awodeji, an electrician, committed the offence during a robbery operation in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  court found them guilty of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder, following a series of hearings that began on October 8, 2020. According to court records, the tragic incident occurred on January 28, 2020, in the Omo West…

 Daud Olatunji The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has announced a comprehensive plan to crash food prices within 180 days.  Kyari unveiled these measures on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, outlining a series of strategic actions aimed at stabilizing the nation’s food market. Kyari stated, “Our administration has unveiled a series of strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting our nation.  “These measures will be implemented over the next 180 days. “The outlined measures include the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of certain food commodities through land and…

Daud Olatunji  Nigeria’s external reserves have achieved a significant milestone, surpassing $35 billion for the first time since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that as of July 8, 2024, the reserves stood at $35.05 billion, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), analyzed by Nairametrics. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the  recent increase marks the highest level of Nigeria’s foreign reserves since May 30, 2023, when the reserves were at $35.09 billion.  This period was notable as it occurred just 14 days before the introduction of the foreign exchange (FX) unification policy in June 2023,…

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced Olukayode Dayo, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to life imprisonment for raping a minor.  The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, bringing a conclusion to a case that has drawn significant public attention. The 39-year-old officer faced a single charge of rape following an incident on December 25, 2021.  According to the charge sheet, Dayo sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Ado Ekiti, in direct violation of Section 31(2) of the Child’s Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.  He was arraigned on…

The Kano State Hisbah Board has distanced itself from Idris Ahmed Gama, an official who publicly supported LGBTQ rights.  Gama, head of the Hisbah medical unit, stirred public debate after a video surfaced in which he called for constitutional amendments to support LGBTQ individuals. The video, which went viral, showcased Gama sharing his personal journey and evolving perspective on LGBTQ issues.  Initially shocked by his encounters with the LGBTQ community, Gama expressed a newfound respect and understanding, stating, “They are people like me, human beings deserving of respect and dignity.” However, Gama’s comments have been met with significant backlash. Sheikh…

The Jos Wildlife Park in Plateau State has reportedly  recaptured a hyena that had earlier escaped from the facility, the Plateau State Tourism Corporation announced on Tuesday. The hyena was found alive after an intensive search and was immediately sedated and returned to its enclosure, according to the statement released by the Corporation, led by Chuwang Pwajok. The statement read, “The Management of Plateau State Tourism Corporation would like to inform the general public that after relentless search and rescue efforts, the missing hyena has finally been found, tranquilised, captured and safely returned to its enclosure. We deeply appreciate the…

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, Prof. Armaya’u Bichi, has alleged that some of the university’s staff were serving as informants to bandits. Bichi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Katsina on Tuesday, said that the contacts of the suspected staffers were given to a security agency for further investigation. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suspected bandits have been attacking the area, kidnapping students and staffers of the university as well as their family members. A recent attack that led to the death of one of the university’s staff prompted his colleagues to stage…