Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled January 26, 2024, as the date for the judgment in the appeal filed by former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan.  Mr. Lawan, who is currently serving a jail sentence, seeks to overturn the February 24, 2022, verdict of the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The case, presided over by a five-member panel headed by Justice John Okoro, concluded its proceedings after lawyers for both parties presented their final arguments and adopted their written briefs. Farouk Lawan’s appeal centers on his conviction on a three-count charge of soliciting a bribe, agreeing…

Daud Olatunji The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, has extended clemency to 53 inmates facing various charges at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre.  This compassionate gesture marks the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year in the state, aimed at reducing the strain on the facility. Justice Amadi’s decision aligns with the legal provisions outlined in section 34 Sub-section 1 of the Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State and the special provision act of the Laws of the Federation, which empowers the Chief Judge to evaluate the correctional center’s inmate population, their length of incarceration, and…

Daud Olatunji The High Court of Justice in the  Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued a compelling order for the immediate and unconditional release of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele.  The court’s decision comes in response to a Motion Ex-parte filed by Emefiele, who sought his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while awaiting the determination of the Originating Motion. Justice O.A. Adeniyi presided over the case and granted the order after carefully considering the motion presented by Emefiele.  The respondents in the case, which include…

Daud Olatunji In a recent development, a Sharia Court operating under the Kano State Hisbah Board, located in the Sharada area of Kano, has sentenced eight individuals accused of cross-dressing to three months of imprisonment at a Correctional Centre.  The court also offered them an alternative to pay a fine. The verdict was handed down following the admission of guilt by the cross-dressers during their appearance before the Hisbah Shari’a Court. The presiding Judge, Khadi Tanimu-Sani, decreed that each offender should receive 10 lashes of the cane, pay a fine of N20,000, and provide one surety or face the three-month…

Daud Olatunji In a significant legal development, a Federal High Court in Kano has issued a compelling order demanding that the Kano State Government pay a substantial compensation of N30 billion within seven days.  This verdict stems from a lawsuit brought forth by the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders, who accused the government of unlawfully demolishing their shops without adhering to proper legal procedures. The judgment, initially delivered on September 29, 2023, had already mandated the Kano State Government to pay the same amount to the aggrieved shop owners.  However, the recent order by Justice Samuel…

Daud Olatunji In a heartwarming display of corporate social responsibility, PR Primus Magazine, Nigeria’s leading Public Relations publication, has extended a helping hand to four underprivileged students by granting them scholarships to support their educational pursuits.  This noble initiative took center stage at the 2023 “Your Image Awards” and Public Lecture event, held in Abeokuta.  The event was organized in collaboration with the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to recognize and honour six distinguished Nigerian icons for their significant contributions to the country’s development. During the ceremony, Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by the State…

Daud Olatunji In a resolute commitment to fostering a thriving business ecosystem and uplifting small-scale enterprises, the Ogun State government is unwavering in its mission to maintain an enabling environment for businesses, ensuring the prosperity of its residents. Mr. Adebola Sofela, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, reaffirmed this commitment during a media address in Abeokuta.  Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olu. Ola. Aikulola, and other top management staff of the Ministry, he led a tour of various agencies, markets, and the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) complex. The tour included visits to…

Aminat Gusanu Nigerians have voiced their concerns over the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and its recent call for President Tinubu to reduce the N6.9 billion car budget or face potential legal action. On Wednesday, SERAP used its Twitter platform to call on President Tinubu to promptly trim the extravagant N6.9 billion budget allocated for purchasing cars for the House House, First Lady’s Office, and the Presidential Villa, sparking a wave of reactions from netizens. Many Nigerians expressed their skepticism about SERAP’s ability to effect change through legal channels. @IfeanyiGod questioned the organization’s impact, noting the prevailing sense of…

Daud Olatunji The House of Representatives has voted to remove the controversial N5 billion presidential yacht allocation from the 2023 supplementary budget, opting instead to divert the funds to bolster student loans.  The move, which has been met with both praise and criticism, was announced by Abubakar Bichi, the chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriation. The supplementary budget, totaling N2.17 trillion, was passed by the House on Thursday following rigorous debates and negotiations.  One of the most notable changes to the budget was the removal of the presidential yacht allocation, a decision that reflects a shift in priorities for…

Daud Olatunji Cocoa farmers in the Oluwa Forest Reserve in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State are pleading for police protection as they face alleged attacks by suspected hoodlums.  The farmers’ distress began following a court order that restrained the state government and other defendants from taking any action on their land. The conflict revolves around an agro-allied company’s claim to the cocoa farmlands, asserting that they were leased to them by the state government.  However, the farmers maintain that a court injunction, issued in May this year, bars the company from any activity on the land. In a…