Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a brewing confrontation, the Senate and President Bola Tinubu’s administration are at odds over the unconfirmed assumption of duty by Dr. Yemi Cardoso, the newly nominated Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, and his deputies.  Despite being announced by President Tinubu, Cardoso and his deputies commenced their roles at the CBN headquarters in Abuja without Senate confirmation. President Tinubu, through his spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, had unveiled Cardoso as the CBN governor-designate, along with four deputy governors, pending Senate approval.  However, Cardoso and his deputy governor nominees began their roles without Senate confirmation, as confirmed by the CBN’s Director…

Daud Olatunji  Latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics have shown that Ogun state has a public debt of N379.21 billion as at the second quarter of 2023. Breaking it down, the state has a domestic debt of N293.20 billion and an external debt of $111.62 million. Using the CBN conversion rate of N770.5/$, the external debt is N86.0 billion. Meanwhile, the state is said to have an estimated population of 4.4 million citizens. If the Debt per Capita (that is the division of the state debt over population) is calculated, it means each residents in the state…

Daud Olatunji In a decisive move, Federal Capital Territory Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike has revoked 22 land allocations in Abuja’s Central Business District, citing ongoing non-development in contravention of the terms of Right of Occupancy.  Among the affected allottees are notable entities like Lowe Lintas, Tourist Company of Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, and more. However, Minister Wike has shown leniency by granting a three-month grace period to 189 titleholders who have Building Plan Approvals but have yet to commence development.  Notably, this grace extends to 21 embassies, including Ireland, France, Canada, and others, as well as 168 other entities, both corporate…

Daud Olatunji In a recent statement, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, has clarified that those involved in cult killings in Sagamu have no ties to educational institutions or political parties.  This announcement comes in the wake of the arrest of Damilare Bello, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Sagamu 1 Constituency, in connection with the recent cult-related violence in Sagamu. The recurring cult clashes in Sagamu have led to a blame game between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Commissioner Alamutu addressed the issue during a radio…

In a decisive move to uphold academic integrity and discipline, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has taken rigorous measures against 14 individuals, comprising academic and non-academic staff, as well as students, for various forms of misconduct. The university administration has shown no tolerance for unethical behavior, with five lecturers implicated in offenses that include extorting money from successful students.  Shockingly, one lecturer was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme to extort funds from students by falsely claiming they had failed his courses. In another case, a lecturer from the Department of History and International Relations faced dismissal…

In a heartbreaking turn of events, a grieving husband, Mr. Festus Godson Egede, has taken legal action against Eku Baptist/General Hospital, Delta State, its medical team, and the state government, alleging professional negligence that resulted in the untimely demise of his 33-year-old wife, Mrs. Anesther Egede. Mr. Egede’s legal pursuit, documented in a summons obtained by Metro PUNCH, sheds light on a harrowing medical ordeal.  The suit (HCI/44/2023) places Eku Baptist/General Hospital, the Delta state government, the hospital’s Managing Director, Dr. Totibo, and others as defendants. The tragic story unfolds with Mr. Egede recounting that Dr. Ebom Totibo, a physician…

Daud Olatunji Renowned legal scholar, Prof. Yemi Oke, has issued a robust response to what he termed “unfounded allegations” made against him by Venerable B. O. Okunuga.  The allegations were brought to light in an online document titled “Clergyman Call on LPPC to Disqualify Law Professor from SAN Rank alleging Fraudulent and Sharp Practices,” published on September 23, 2023, by Halima Abiola on loyalnigerianlawyer.com. Prof. Oke, who is a member of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law at the University of Lagos, expressed his dismay at the public nature of the allegations, emphasizing that they were not only baseless…

Daud Olatunji The much-anticipated judgment day approaches as the Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal prepares to rule on the petitions lodged by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party and Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  These petitions are  contesting  the outcome of the March 18 governorship elections in Lagos State, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were declared victors by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Arum Ashom-led panel has officially announced the forthcoming judgment, scheduled for this Monday. Rhodes-Vivour, who secured the second…

Daud Olatunji In a remarkable display of commitment to fostering educational excellence and empowering young talents, former Senator representing Ogun West, Senator Tolu Odebiyi’s Scholarship Foundation has extended its benevolent reach to 400 deserving beneficiaries.  The foundation, led by Sen. Tolu Odebiyi, CON, continues to be a beacon of hope for students hailing from the Ogun West Senatorial District, as it disburses bursaries in anticipation of the upcoming 2023/24 academic year in various public tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The recipients of these bursaries expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Sen. Tolu Odebiyi, CON, the Patron of the foundation, for his unwavering…

Daud Olatunji The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate an investigation into the alleged disappearance of $15 billion and N200 billion in oil revenues.  In a statement, SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, called for the establishment of a presidential panel to promptly examine these allegations, as documented by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) between 2020 and 2021.  The group emphasized the importance of accountability, prosecution of suspected wrongdoers, and the recovery of any misappropriated funds to restore public trust and prevent further strain on the country’s finances. Failure to act could…