Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a sweeping crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended multiple suspects, including a traditional leader in Osun State, a Chadian national, and a youth corps member.  This development was disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, on Sunday. The head of the Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, was arrested on Friday, with fresh cannabis plants weighing 5kg.   “In Osun State, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, was on Friday, 5th July arrested with fresh cannabis plants that weighed…

A Nigerian man, Oladip Oshodi, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for a series of violent crimes, including the rape of a woman who escaped by jumping from a window. Oshodi, 48, was sentenced on Friday, July 5, after being found guilty of two counts of rape, administering a noxious substance, threats to kill, grievous bodily harm, and controlling coercive behaviour.  The sentencing took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The Metropolitan Police reported that Oshodi was arrested on July 12, 2023, by detectives from the East Area Public Protection Unit.  He had been held in custody throughout the…

Family planning acceptors in Edo State have voiced their frustrations over a significant shortage of commodities in many Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities.  Despite the Edo government’s recent approval of over N27 million for the procurement of family planning commodities for 2024, many women in the state continue to struggle with accessing these essential services. Women from Egor and Oredo local government areas shared their difficulties in separate interviews.  Felicia Okoro, a family planning acceptor from Benin City, expressed her frustration, saying, “I have been coming to the PHC for three months, but they always tell me they don’t have…

Daud Olatunji The family of the late Nigerian Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has  dismissed the Federal Government’s recent claim that all legal disputes surrounding the ownership of Malabu Oil and Gas, and particularly the Oil Mining License (OML 245), have been resolved. In a pointed rebuttal, the Abacha family has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, demanding a retraction of his statement made at a public function in Abuja.  The family’s legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Reuben Okpanachi Atabo, disclosed the  demand in a protest letter delivered to…

Daud Olatunji The current governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo,has described the consolidation of Nigeria’s banking sector during his tenure as a perilous endeavour that permanently altered the financial landscape of the country.  Soludo stated this at the launch of a new book, “Power of One Man: How the Soludo-Engineered Consolidation Transformed Nigerian Banks to Global Players,” authored by Ray Echebiri, CEO of the Centre for Financial Journalism.  The event took place on Saturday in Lagos. Soludo, who served as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2004 to 2009, spearheaded the consolidation policy aimed at restructuring…

The Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, says the hospital’s obstetric unit – Ayinke House, records an average of 2,500 monthly childbirth deliveries. Fabamwo made the disclosure in an interview on Sunday in Lagos. Ayinke House is a maternal healthcare facility located within the premises of LASUTH and reputed as Nigeria’s biggest maternity hospital after it was upgraded from an 80-bed facility to a 170-bed furnished with state-of-the-art medical equipment. Fabamwo said delivery rate had declined compared to previous 3,000 per month child deliveries at the Ayinke House. “It’s now low compared to what…

A  Federal lawmaker, Abdul Malik Zubairu, representing Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, has facilitated  the marriage of 105 girls orphaned by the ongoing banditry in the region. The event took place on Saturday in Bungudu town, the headquarters of Bungudu Local Government Area.  The brides and grooms  were at the center of a celebration that attracted thousands of well-wishers and community members. .The lawmaker not only facilitated the marriages but also ensured that each couple had the essentials to start their new lives together. In addition to the marriages, Zubairu  paid a total of N10.5 million in dowries for…

Daud Olatunji The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG),Pastor Enoch Adeboye,  has urged his followers to steer clear of sexual temptation,declaring  that no level of spiritual anointing can combat such challenges effectively. Speaking at the recently concluded Ministers & Workers Conference of RCCG Americas 1, which encompasses North, Central, and Caribbean regions, Adeboye stressed  the persistent and pervasive nature of sexual immorality, even for seasoned ministers.  The event, themed “The Glory Ahead,” saw Adeboye share personal insights and biblical anecdotes to drive home his point. At 82, Adeboye revealed that he remains vigilant against sexual immorality,…

 Daud Olatunji A violent clash erupted in Abeokuta, Ogun State, leaving the Adatan Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Sikiru Olugbenga, severely wounded and his subordinates fleeing the scene in panic.  The chaos unfolded after a betting agent,  Anuoluwapo Alabede, was fatally shot during a confrontation between the police and suspected cultists. The incident occurred on Friday when CSP Olugbenga mobilised his team to the Imala/Elega area to preemptively address potential violence linked to the annual 7/7 cult celebrations.  Every July 7, rival cult groups, notably the Aiye and Eiye confraternities, traditionally engage in deadly clashes to avenge the deaths of…

The Federal Government has announced plans to take legal action against Daily Trust newspaper following an alleged  contentious article published on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  article claimed that the government had entered into a $150 billion Samoa Deal, which allegedly required loan recipients to enforce LGBTQ rights within their jurisdictions. But, in a swift response, the Federal Government categorically denied the allegations, clarifying that the Samoa agreement is focused solely on enhancing the nation’s economic development and does not contain any provisions related to same-sex marriage or LGBTQ rights.  Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget…