Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the electoral body to investigate allegations that about ₦800bn from Federation Account Allocation Committee allocations was diverted by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress for political campaigns. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1426/2026, was filed against INEC over claims that APC governors allegedly made monthly deductions from their FAAC allocations into a fund reportedly created to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. SERAP disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its…

Suliat Lawal Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the Federal Government’s proposed N50,000 examination fee for candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the National Examinations Council examination, warning that the policy would push millions of children out of school. Atiku described the planned fee hike as insensitive and anti-poor, saying it would deny children from low- and middle-income families access to education and worsen Nigeria’s already alarming out-of-school children crisis. The Federal Government had on June 18 approved a uniform examination fee of N50,000 for candidates sitting WAEC…

No fewer than 27 people have been killed in fresh attacks in Benue and Plateau states, with suspected armed herders reportedly killing 18 persons in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State and gunmen wiping out a family of nine, including a two-month-old baby, in Plateau State. The latest attacks have heightened fears over the worsening security situation in the North-Central region, coming barely two weeks after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the Benue attacks occurred…

Fawaz Adebisi The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned 38 suspects before the Special Anti-Cultism Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, over alleged cultism, prostitution and offences capable of causing a breach of public peace. The defendants, according to court documents  obtained by PLATFORM TIMES, comprise 24 men and 14 women arrested during a police raid on Wazobia Brothel located in Isheri Olofin via Kara-Warewa in the Abeokuta Magisterial District. The police alleged that the male defendants are members of the proscribed Aiye Confraternity and conspired to engage in cult-related activities, contrary to the provisions of the Ogun State Prohibition…

Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested three women allegedly involved in a child trafficking syndicate accused of selling a four-year-old boy for N2 million while intensifying efforts to rescue other trafficked children and apprehend fleeing members of the network. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the suspects were arrested during a police operation at a motor park in Onitsha on Saturday evening. The suspects were identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday. According to…

…Recovers Intelligence Materials, Weapons From f Fleeing Terrorists Video Evidence Links Four Top ISWAP Commanders To Attack Daud Olatunji The Nigerian military has uncovered the involvement of foreign nationals, including a Moroccan doctor and a Palestinian trainer, in a failed infiltration attempt by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province into Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. Troops of the 19 Brigade, Sector 3 of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, foiled the attack after intercepting the insurgents and engaging them with superior firepower, forcing them to retreat with heavy casualties. The Acting Media…

Daud Olatunji First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to Afrobeats stars David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, Damini Ogulu (Burna Boy) and Ahmed Ololade (Asake), to use their wealth to support vulnerable Nigerians struggling with the country’s economic hardship. Mrs Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday while inspecting the National Community Food Bank project for the North-Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State. She said although the entertainers had earned the right to enjoy the fruits of their labour, they should also establish charitable foundations to empower the less privileged and support small-scale entrepreneurs. According to her, the economic challenges…

The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the names and personal particulars of their candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. The commission announced on Sunday that the deadline, initially fixed for Saturday, July 11, has been extended by three days to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. INEC disclosed this in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna. The electoral umpire said the decision followed an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, which sought more time on behalf…

Parents of the schoolchildren and teachers rescued after spending 56 days in captivity in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have expressed joy and relief, saying they cannot wait to reunite with their loved ones. The victims, abducted on May 15 by suspected terrorists linked to Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), regained their freedom on Friday following a coordinated security operation. Governor Seyi Makinde said the rescued victims would remain under medical observation for 48 hours before being formally handed over to the Oyo State Government on Monday for rehabilitation and reunification with their families. Speaking during a…

Suspected kidnappers have abducted nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, after attacking a funeral convoy conveying the remains of a late Deputy Corps Commander of the FRSC, Augustine O. Ikwue, along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The attackers were also said to have temporarily taken away the deceased officer’s corpse during the Thursday evening ambush before abandoning it in Ejule community. The assailants have reportedly contacted the family of the deceased, demanding a ransom of N450 million for the release of those abducted. The late Ikwue was said to…