Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji,  A globally recognized researcher and Babcock University scholar, Dr. Adetayo Adebowale, has urged the Nigerian government and private sector to invest deliberately in research and technological infrastructure, saying the nation has all it takes to become a global technology powerhouse. Dr. Adebowale, who was recently named among the world’s top 2% of scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier for the second consecutive year, said Nigeria’s youthful population, growing internet penetration, and innovative startups offer a fertile foundation for a tech-driven economy—if properly harnessed through research and innovation. “Any nation aspiring to make a global impact must be ready…

Daud Olatunji A magistrate court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered the remand of Bishop Sam Onyeagoziri Ndubueze, the presiding cleric of Champion Cathedral Church, over allegations of sexual misconduct, extortion, and the circulation of pornographic materials. Bishop Ndubueze was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on unlawful carnal knowledge, threats, fraud, and cybercrime, in violation of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (2018, amended 2024), the Criminal Code, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015. The accused was said to have engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with a young woman (name withheld) in…

The United Kingdom’s Charity Commission has frozen more than 100 bank accounts linked to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) International, founded by Nigerian cleric Dr. Daniel Olukoya, over alleged financial mismanagement and lack of transparency. In a detailed report released on Monday, the UK regulator said it launched a statutory inquiry after “serious financial concerns” were uncovered in the operations of MFM’s charity arm in the country. According to the Commission, the investigation revealed that trustees of the church’s UK branch failed to maintain effective oversight and control of the church’s sprawling financial operations. “Many of the…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has nullified the election of all 13 local government chairmen and their councillors, declaring the July 2024 local government polls conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) unconstitutional. Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice H. I. O. Oshomah ruled that the elections failed to comply with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. He consequently voided and cancelled the exercise, ordering that no further local government election should be conducted in the state except strictly in accordance with the law. The court granted most of the reliefs…

Daud Olatunji Ogun State Governor,  Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration will make budgetary provisions to support cancer awareness, early detection, and treatment across the state. Abiodun made the pledge on Tuesday in Abeokuta while receiving a Cancer Awareness and Screening team during the commissioning of a free Breast Screening Centre — the second of its kind in Nigeria. The team included the wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma; the wife of the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Bagudu, who also serves as the President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control; the…

Pandemonium reportedly broke out during a meeting of Labour Party lawmakers in the Abia State House of Assembly after the Majority Leader, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu, allegedly smashed a beer bottle on the head of his colleague, Hon. Akachukwu Ucheonye, during a heated argument over the sharing of a cash gift allegedly sent by Governor Alex Otti. PLATFORM TIMES reports that Sahara Reporters gathered from multiple sources that the violent confrontation occurred at the Aba residence of Hon. Fyne Ahuama, the member representing Osisioma Ngwa South Constituency, where members of the LP caucus had gathered to deliberate on the distribution…

…One guard shot multiple times during attack Terror returned to Kaduna in the early hours of Tuesday as heavily armed bandits invaded a private hospital in Kujama, the headquarters of Chikun Local Government Area, abducting a medical doctor, five patients, and a security guard. The incident, which occurred at Nasara Nursing and Maternity Home, threw the quiet town into confusion as residents scampered for safety while the assailants shot sporadically. Eyewitnesses told  that the gunmen, numbering over a dozen, stormed the facility around 1:00 a.m., ordering everyone to lie face down before whisking away their victims into the nearby forest.…

No fewer than 35 persons were confirmed dead while 46 others sustained varying degrees of burns after a fuel-laden tanker exploded on Tuesday morning along the Bida–Agaie highway in Niger State. The tragic incident, which occurred around 11:00 a.m. near Essan and Badeggi communities in Katcha Local Government Area, threw the entire area into mourning as scores of victims were burnt beyond recognition. Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, Aishat Saadu, said the accident was a lone crash involving a fallen tanker that burst into flames while people were scooping fuel.…

A Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has ordered the remand of Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, alongside 11 others in prison custody over their involvement in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest. The defendants were arrested on Monday during a demonstration calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for nearly five years. They were arraigned on Tuesday before the Kuje Magistrate Court on charges bordering on breach of public peace.…

… Bill Aligns Nigeria With Kenya, South Africa On Strict Child Safety Laws … Lawmakers Vow To End Culture Of Impunity In Sexual Crimes Daud Olatunji  The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a landmark bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually assaulting or defiling a minor, in what lawmakers described as a decisive step toward safeguarding children from sexual predators. The bill, which enjoyed overwhelming support on the floor of the red chamber, stipulates that any man or woman convicted of engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor will serve life imprisonment without the option of a…