Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The percentage of females admitted into the Nigerian Correctional Centre increased by 4.82 per cent in 2022, according to the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS). This is contained in the NBS Statistical Report on Women and Men in Nigeria 2022 released in  Abuja on Wednesday. The report showed that in 2020, the percentage of females admitted into the Nigerian correctional centre stood at 4.90 per cent, then dropped to 4.48 per cent in 2021 and increased to 4.82 per cent in 2022. It also showed that in 2020, 2021, and 2022, male inmates accounted for 95.10, 95.52, and 95.18 per cent…

Professor Taiwo James Obindo, National President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, has called for the full implementation of the new Mental Health Act to replace the outdated Lunacy Act, which treated individuals with mental health conditions inhumanely. Obindo and other stakeholders spoke at the National Mental Health Act Sensitisation workshop held on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The event was organised by the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria in collaboration with Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.  The President, while speaking on the Act, recalled the atrocities under the old…

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, is set to conclude the third season of its notable reward initiative, the 5 for 5 Promo.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  grand finale is slated for Friday, May 31, 2024, in Lagos, promising an exciting climax with a N10 million cash prize up for grabs in the final draw. Introduced in 2019, the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo was created to reward the bank’s customers for their loyalty and active engagement with the bank’s products.  Through this initiative, Wema Bank has been…

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised  the alarm on the escalating cigarette addiction crisis among Nigerian youth, revealing that over five million young Nigerians are hooked on smoking.  This distressing statistic was disclosed during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-free Nollywood, held in Enugu. The event was aimed at addressing the influence of smoking in the film industry. Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, highlighted the dire consequences of tobacco addiction.  He noted that tobacco smoking has claimed more than 80 million lives globally, with 75% of these deaths occurring in developing countries, including Nigeria. Oluwafemi emphasized that…

Over the past five years, Lagos State has emerged as the epicenter of human trafficking in Nigeria, with 2,074 individuals trafficked and only 27 convictions secured in connection with the crime. This revelation comes from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), highlighting the severity of the situation in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Data from shows identified key areas as hotspots include Epe, Ikorodu, Agege, Apapa, and Iganmu, indicating a widespread and entrenched problem. The statistics, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request by The Guardian with assistance from Media Rights Agenda (MRA), paint a…

 A 48-year-old cleric, David Olasupo, was on Tuesday, arraigned before a Badagry Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly posting pictures of a woman on Facebook and labeling her a ‘ritualist.’ PLATFORM TIMES reports that  the police report indicates that the defendant, whose residential address remains undisclosed, is facing charges for conduct likely to breach public peace.  According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Ayodele Adeosun, the alleged offense took place on April 29, around 10:30 p.m., in the Ilogbo-Eremi area of Badagry, Lagos State. The prosecutor detailed that Olasupo posted pictures of Mrs. Mayowa Abimbola, another cleric, on Facebook, accusing her…

A 45 years old teacher, Oluwagbemi Alabi, has been sentenced by An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, to 15 years imprisonment for raping an eight years old girl. Alabi, who committed the offence in 1999, was arraigned on 25th August 2023 on one count charge of rape. The charge read, “Alabi Oluwafemi sometime in the year 1999 at Ikere Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did rape an eight-year-old girl, at the time of committing the offence. “The offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Laws…

 Daud Olatunji The high-profile case involving the Managing Director of Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Christopher Otabor, and three other members of staff reached a climax as the court overruled objections from the defense counsel.  A statement signed by Communication Officer of NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, explained that the case revolves around alleged organ (kidney) harvesting, with the defendants facing charges under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. The statement further read that the  prosecution’s case gained significant momentum with the testimony of key witnesses, including Mr. Lanre Akande, an Abuja-based businessman, and Mr. Liman Yusuf Shehu, a…

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Ogun State Council, launched its 2024 Nurses Week with a resounding call for empowerment and recognition of the invaluable role nurses play in society.  Under the theme “Our Nurses Our Future, the Economic Power of Care,” the week-long event commenced with Chairman Comrade Nurse, Adejoke Bello highlighting the significance of celebrating Nigeria’s nursing workforce. In her address, Bello expressed gratitude to the association members for their unwavering dedication and emphasized the crucial role nurses play as the backbone of the healthcare system. She stressed the importance of diligence, empathy, and kindness…

Daud Olatunji  In response to recent misconceptions circulating on social media platforms, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has clarified its stance regarding the accessibility of student loans.  The management of NELFUND categorically refuted claims suggesting that the student loan programme is exclusively reserved for federal institutions, emphasizing its inclusion of state institutions. In a statement titled “Clarification: State Institutions Included in Student Loan Programme,” released on Tuesday, NELFUND debunked the misinformation and provided insight into the program’s structure. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Akintinde Sawyerr, reiterated during a Pre-Application Sensitisation Press Conference in Abuja that the initiative encompasses both…