Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  The Federal Government has announced the issuance of licenses to 17 Independent Electricity Distribution Networks operators, with 10 of them already operational, as revealed in the recently published 2022 Market Competition Report by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). In this comprehensive report, the government delved into the intricate details of Nigeria’s power distribution sector, highlighting the progression since the unbundling of the power sector into generation, transmission, and distribution segments in November 2013.  At that time, 11 successor distribution companies emerged, underwent privatization, and have been serving the nation, albeit with ongoing consumer complaints. However, the NERC’s…

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to concerns raised regarding Nigerian inmates serving prison terms in Ethiopia.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that over 270 Nigerian nationals find themselves incarcerated in Ethiopian prisons, with most of them imprisoned for drug-related offenses. The issue gained attention after a viral video by Dr. Paul Ezike highlighted the alleged mistreatment of Nigerian inmates in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia. However, the ministry has deemed Dr. Ezike’s narration as exaggerated and unfair to the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa, emphasizing that they regularly visit these prisons to ensure the well-being of the inmates. According to spokesperson…

Daud Olatunji In 2022, Ogun State found itself in the national spotlight for road accidents, ranking third in Nigeria for the highest number of road crashes, resulting in the tragic loss of 397 lives.  This shocking data, recently released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), paints a grim picture of road safety in the region. Among all states, Kaduna took the top spot with 680 fatalities, followed closely by the Federal Capital Territory with 403 deaths. Ogun’s third-place ranking underscores the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures in the state. The South West region also experienced its share…

In a landmark ruling, the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Ifeanyi Ndieze for the heinous sexual assault of a four-year-old girl within the confines of a church event.  The presiding judge, Justice Abiola Soladoye, delivered this verdict on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, affirming the prosecution’s case of sexual assault against Ndieze, in accordance with Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Justice Soladoye recounted the harrowing incident, stating, “The child identified the defendant as the man who carried her during a church programme  and…

A horrific accident unfolded on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, along Ago Okota Palace Way in Lagos, claiming the lives of five individuals, including a pregnant woman and two young children. Eyewitnesses at the scene described the shocking incident, revealing that it transpired when two men engaged in a perilous struggle for control of the steering wheel of a Sienna car. Among these men were an off-duty police officer and a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official. The fatal collision occurred as these two men forcibly wrestled the steering from the private car’s driver. Eyewitness Uche Muoneke recounted, “I saw…

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has pleaded with Nigerians to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu’s administration given the current economic situation. The Ooni made the appeal during the visitation to his family compound as part of activities to mark the grand finale of the Olojo Annual Festival in the Oketase area, Ile-Ife on Monday. The monarch admitted that Nigeria is currently at its trial period when the citizens are facing a lot of challenges in all ramifications of life. “I know that people are passing through difficult periods in which they are not finding life…

Daud Olatunji  In a recent crackdown by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, 14 individuals have been arrested and charged for spreading false information about the disappearance of their genitals, which triggered a series of mob actions in the nation’s capital. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba, revealed these developments during a press briefing on Tuesday, highlighting the successful efforts of the police in curbing crime across the FCT in recent weeks. The cases primarily emerged in areas like Garshi, Gwagwalada, and Kwali, resulting in violent mob reactions. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these incidents. Upon medical evaluation,…

Daud Olatunji  In a shocking revelation, the suspected killers of Justice Margaret Igbetar, the retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, have confessed to her murder, citing a bitter family property dispute as the motive. The assailants, who invaded her residence on August 24, 2023, have been apprehended and identified, shedding light on the tragic incident. Commissioner of Police, Batholomew Onyeka, disclosed that the mastermind behind this heinous act was the deceased’s own nephew, Aondohemba Joseph. Joseph allegedly led a gang of individuals to her residence, where she met her untimely demise. Other suspects, including…

Daud Olatunji In a resolute stand to uphold democracy and protect the rights of the people of Ogun State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun has vowed to continue its battle to restore power to the state’s citizens.  The party’s commitment comes in the wake of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s decision to strike out their petition against Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a verdict that the PDP vehemently rejects. At a press conference addressed by the PDP Chairman in Ogun, Sikirulahi Ogundele, the party expressed its profound disappointment regarding the tribunal’s judgment,…

Daud Olatunji  In a relentless pursuit of its mission to eradicate human trafficking and ensure that offenders face justice, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has achieved a significant victory.  A well-known socialite in Benin City and a high-profile human trafficker, Felicia Osaigbovo, alias Mama Masha, has been convicted and sentenced to a 12-year prison term. Additionally, she faces a hefty fine of N24 million, a ruling handed down by the Honorable Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo of the High Court, Criminal Division, Benin City. Felicia Osaigbovo, a 62-year-old member of a human trafficking syndicate, stood accused…