Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging the November 28, 2025, judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which quashed the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central. The dispute stems from the Akpabio-led Senate’s suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, a decision the appellate court later overturned. Akpabio is contesting the appellate court’s refusal to allow him rely on a brief of argument that exceeded the 35-page limit set by the Court of Appeal rules. Through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Akpabio argued that the refusal violated…

… Funds Intended For National Protection Converted To Foreign Currency … Commission Recovers N566bn In Anti-Corruption Driv Aishah Waliyullah  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised the alarm over alleged massive diversion of security votes by some state governors, with billions of naira reportedly converted into foreign currency and moved abroad. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this on Friday during the annual lecture of the Honorary Members’ Forum of Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Mess at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos. Olukoyede described corruption as the “real elephant in the room” driving Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, noting…

Nigeria’s total health expenditure rose to ₦10.42 trillion in 2024, even as out-of-pocket spending by households dropped slightly to 58.3 per cent of total health costs, according to the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2023–2024 report. The report, released on Sunday in Abuja, showed that the 2024 out-of-pocket figure represents a marginal decline from 58.8 per cent recorded in 2023, signalling modest progress in reducing the financial burden of healthcare on Nigerians. Findings from the report, presented at a Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, revealed that despite the slight improvement, households remained the largest source…

Troops of the Nigerian military have arrested suspected terrorists during ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, recovering assorted food items, energy drinks, mobile phones and cash in both Naira and CFA. Military sources disclosed that the arrest followed a series of intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting terrorist movements and logistics supply routes across the region. Items recovered from the suspects include assorted food supplies believed to be meant for fighters in the hinterlands, energy drinks, three mobile phones, an identity card, a ring, as well as several sums of cash in local and foreign currencies. According to the military, the…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to immediately make public the certified true copies of the recently gazetted tax laws and to constitute an independent investigative panel to probe allegations of unauthorised alterations to the legislation. SERAP said the panel should be chaired by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal, insisting that its findings must be made public and that anyone found culpable should be prosecuted. The rights group’s demand follows growing concerns raised by the National Assembly over alleged discrepancies between the tax bills passed by…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has invited Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, to appear before its investigators to substantiate allegations of corruption levelled against the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the anti-graft agency formally commenced investigation of the petition on Monday, insisting that Ahmed’s resignation from office would not stall or affect the probe, which it described as being in the public interest. Sources at the commission disclosed that Dangote, or his lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), had been directed to…

The Nigerian Air Force has paid compensation to victims and families affected by the accidental airstrike that struck Gidan Bisa and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State on December 25, 2024. The compensation followed the outcome of a fact-finding investigation which confirmed that 13 civilians were unintentionally killed, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries during an operation targeting suspected terrorists. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame. According to the statement, the Chief of the…

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that some Nigerian banks are facing imminent shutdown, assuring the public that the nation’s banking sector remains healthy, safe and stable. ACAMB gave the assurance in a joint statement issued on Sunday by its President, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, and the General Secretary, Mr Jide Sipe, in reaction to a viral Instagram video alleging that 12 banks would be shut down by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by March 2026. The association described the claims as false, misleading and deliberately crafted to…

Relief swept through Papiri community in Niger State on Sunday as the remaining 130 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School were released, bringing to an end weeks of fear, anguish and uncertainty for families and residents. Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed the development to ARISE News, stating that the final batch of victims was freed following sustained security operations, coordinated intelligence efforts and mounting pressure on the abductors. With the latest release, all 230 pupils and staff members kidnapped during the November 21, 2025 attack on the Catholic boarding school have now regained their…

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering key infrastructural projects in Ota and its environs, assuring residents that major developments promised by his government are steadily nearing completion. The governor gave the assurance at the 2025 annual Odun Omo Iganmode celebration held in Ota, where he disclosed that critical projects such as the Government Housing Estate, the Atan–Igbesa–Agbara Road, and sections of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway reconstruction are ongoing and at advanced stages. Abiodun, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said his administration would ensure that lasting legacy projects are…