Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Nigeria Immigration Service has raised the alarm over the growing sophistication of human traffickers and migrant smugglers, warning that criminal networks are increasingly relying on encrypted messaging applications, falsified travel documents and cross-border collaborations to evade law enforcement. The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, described the trend as disturbing and unacceptable, stressing that Nigeria’s position as a country of origin, transit and destination for irregular migration makes the threat particularly grave. She spoke on Monday at the NIS headquarters in Abuja during the flag-off of the 2025 Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Day, organised to mark International Migrants…

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has asked the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to recuse himself from an ongoing investigation involving him, alleging that the probe is driven by personal animosity and political vendetta. Malami made the demand in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, in which he described the EFCC’s actions as a “witch-hunt” lacking fairness and objectivity. According to the former minister, the investigation and his reported detention were politically motivated, allegedly linked to his recent defection to the African…

The Federal Government, 36 states and the 774 local government councils have shared a total of ₦1.928tn as Federation Account revenue for November 2025. This followed the December 2025 meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee held in Abuja, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the session. The committee disclosed that the distributable revenue comprised ₦1.403tn from statutory revenue, ₦485.838bn from Value Added Tax and ₦39.646bn from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy. Out of the total amount shared, the Federal Government received ₦747.159bn, state governments got ₦601.731bn, while local government councils received ₦445.266bn. In addition, ₦134.355bn, representing…

A member representing Ijebu North State Constituency and former Minority Whip of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Rasheed Kashamu, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, citing deepening internal crises and irreconcilable differences within the opposition party. Kashamu’s defection was formally announced on the floor of the House on Monday during plenary, following the reading of his letter by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide. The lawmaker, in the letter, attributed his decision to persistent factional disputes at the national level of the PDP and unresolved leadership tussles in Ogun State, which…

A chieftain of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has declared that Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive is not targeted at opposition figures, warning that attempts to portray investigation of public officials as political persecution pose a greater threat to democracy than the probes themselves. Showunmi, in a strongly worded statement on Monday, said Nigeria’s democracy was endangered not by lawful investigations but by what he described as a growing effort by political actors to weaponise opposition status as immunity from the law. “Opposition is not a licence to steal, and it is not a shield against accountability,” he said. He stressed that…

The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, has announced plans to honour outstanding alumni of its Department of Mass Communication following their stellar performances at the 2025 Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA) and the 2025 Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME). The decision was taken after a formal briefing by the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr Wasiu Tejuoso, who presented details of the alumni’s achievements to the Rector, Arc. Dr Babatunde Adekoyejo Jolaoso. According to the Polytechnic, the award-winning journalists have once again showcased MAPOLY’s pedigree as a foremost training ground for media and communication professionals,…

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has cleared businessman Hilary Ogbobe of all charges, overturning his 10-year jail sentence for alleged fraud and stealing. The appellate court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Delivering the unanimous judgment on November 27, 2025, Justice Joseph Ekanem, with Justices Paul Bassi and Polycarp Kwahar concurring, allowed Ogbobe’s appeal against the May 2, 2023 judgment of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. Ogbobe had been convicted by Justice Morenike Dada for obtaining money under false pretence, under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related…

…Shields Tenants From Harassment, Eviction The Lagos State Government has moved to clamp down on rising cases of forceful evictions and landlord harassment with the proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025, which makes court orders compulsory before any tenant can be lawfully ejected. Under the draft legislation, landlords who take the law into their hands by forcefully evicting tenants or engaging in self-help measures such as disconnecting electricity or water supply, removing roofs, locking apartments or using thugs risk severe punishment, including a fine of not less than ₦1m or a jail term of up to…

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has opened a formal investigation into the crash-landing of a Flybird Aircraft Management Services Limited jet at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State. The affected aircraft, a Hawker 800XP with registration number 5N-ISB, was en route from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when the incident occurred on Sunday morning. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the aircraft departed Abuja at about 9:20am and developed a landing gear indication problem while approaching Kano, forcing the flight crew to alert air traffic controllers. Confirming the incident in a statement on Sunday, the Director of Public Affairs…

An Oyo State customary court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, has restrained a woman, Idayat, from threatening or interfering with the private life of her estranged husband, Hakeem, following allegations of repeated violent attacks, including chasing him with a cutlass during domestic disputes. The Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, delivered the ruling while deciding a divorce suit filed by Hakeem, who told the court that his wife turned their home into what he described as a “battlefield” and made his life unbearable. Hakeem alleged that Idayat was persistently aggressive, disrespectful to his relatives, friends and neighbours, and hostile to his…