Author: Platform Times Newspaper

 The Court of Appeal Lagos Division, yesterday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by a Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, over the sexual assault of a minor. The appellant is challenging his conviction by a Lagos State High Court over sexual assault of a minor. Baba Ijesha in his notice of appeal marked CA/LAG/CR/544/23 asked the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that retired Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, had on July 14, 2022, sentenced him to…

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Anambra State chapter, has voiced their grievances in a peaceful protest on Tuesday, highlighting concerns over poor welfare conditions and alleged irregularities within the state Assembly.  Assembling outside the assembly complex, protesters brandished placards and banners, chanting slogans demanding improved treatment from the state lawmakers. Central to their concerns were issues regarding entitlements, negligence, and what they perceived as an inadequate response from the management of the Assembly.  Promise Onwukwe, Deputy National President of PASAN, decried the disparity between the conditions experienced by the staff and the privileges enjoyed by the lawmakers themselves. …

Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, has shed light on the party’s role as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in the 2023 presidential election.  In a  Television vision  on Tuesday, Okupe revealed that both himself and LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not fully align with the ideologies of the party. Okupe emphasized that the LP was strategically chosen as a platform due to its availability rather than ideological alignment.  “The LP for us – for Peter Obi and I – and those in the leadership of the movement… the party was a special purpose…

Former Speaker of House of Representatives and a  former gubernatorial candidate  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha has tendered his resignation letter  from the party.  This decision, announced on April 23, has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, casting a shadow over the party’s ability to serve as an effective opposition force. Ihedioha’s departure from the PDP was conveyed through a formal letter addressed to the PDP chairman of Mbutu ward in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, as well as the national chairman.  In his letter, Ihedioha lamented the party’s failure to…

 The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has accused former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello of  diverting a whopping $720,000 from the state’s coffers to a bureau de change under the guise of paying in advance for his child’s school fees. Speaking during an interview with journalists in Abuja, Olukoyede condemned the act, describing it as a blatant misuse of public funds, particularly in a state grappling with economic challenges.  He stated, “a sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s…

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede has  threatened that  he will resign from his position if the embattled former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, escapes prosecution. The EFCC is pursuing Bello on 19 counts related to alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds totaling N80.2 billion.  Olukoyede while  addressing editors,  at the commission’s  Headquarters in  Abuja,affirmed his commitment to see the case through to its conclusion, vowing to ensure that all who impeded Bello’s arrest face justice. He said “no  matter the obstacles or attacks against us,we will not waver in our…

Former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday, told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop harassing him and respect the rule of law Bello gave the advice in a statement made available in Abuja by his media office signed by an officer, Michael Ohiare, in reaction to EFCC’s rebuttal on alleged disobedience to court order in the case filed against him. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the anti-graft agency had, in a statement titled: “Re: Yahaya Bello: EFCC Never Disobeyed Court Order,” reacted to the allegation. But reacting, Ohiare said that contrary to…

Daud Olatunji  A  Federal Government delegation from the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) has expressed shock  over the dire conditions faced by Nigerians residing in border communities in Ogun State.  Led by the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Kelly George Alabo, the delegation embarked on a visit to several villages in the Yewa-North local government areas, including Asa, Agbelepon, Agbele, Oke-Odo and  Igbokofi.  The delegation was astounded by the extent of neglect, which has exacerbated some  issues such as the  cholera outbreak due to the acute shortage of water. During the visit, Dr. Alabo, represented by the Director…

Daud Olatunji Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has  told President Bola Tinunu to include students in private universities as beneficiaries in the federal government’s Student Loan Scheme. The former president also  raised  concerns over rising banditry and kidnappings fueled by unemployment in Nigeria. Obasanjo spoke during the inauguration of the Asiwaju Onafowokan, Coleman Wires and Cables building at Bells University’s College of Postgraduate Studies in Ota, Ogun State. He emphasised  the importance of extending the Student Loan Scheme to all students, regardless of their university affiliation.  He expressed doubts about the scheme’s efficacy if certain groups are excluded and highlighted its…

Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun, Lagos Coordinator, JAMB Equal Opportunity Group, says the board will refund fees paid by deserving visually-impaired candidates for the purchase of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination UTME forms. Olanrewaju, a former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), gave the assurance at the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), University of Lagos, centre for 2024 UTME  for visually-impaired candidates from Lagos and Ogun states. According to him, a total of 88 candidates in this category registered for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for the centre but only 82 were present. He explained that only visually impaired candidates with…