Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The traditional ruler of Agamo Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Kehinde Jacob Faledon, has been shot dead by suspected gunmen who reportedly stormed his palace on Wednesday night. Faledon was said to have been attacked at his residence in the community near Itaogbolu, where the assailants allegedly attempted to abduct him before shooting him at close range. Police authorities in the state confirmed the incident on Thursday, describing it as a “heinous crime” and assuring residents that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Jimoh Abayomi,…

A 64-year-old American woman has accused officials at the United States Embassy in Nigeria of mocking her relationship with her 27-year-old Nigerian fiancé before denying his K-1 visa application. The woman, who identified herself simply as Deborah, said the embassy issued her fiancé a 221(g) refusal form following his interview, indicating that additional administrative processing was required and that he did not meet the qualifications for the visa category at that stage. Deborah spoke during a live call-in session hosted by U.S.-based immigration lawyer Jim Hacking, where she expressed frustration over what she described as humiliating treatment during the visa…

A United States District Court in Boston has sentenced a 37-year-old Nigerian, Matthew Akande, to eight years’ imprisonment for orchestrating a $1.3 million tax fraud scheme, while American authorities have also extradited another Nigerian, Afeez Olatunji Adewale, to face charges over a sexual extortion case linked to the suicide of a teenage boy. In the first case, Justice Indira Talwani of the US District Court, Boston, handed Akande an eight-year jail term, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay $1,393,230 in restitution to the US government. According to a statement by…

The Nigerian military has arrested additional serving officers over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, deepening an investigation that has lingered since last year. Among those reportedly detained is Major H. Yusuf of the Nigerian Army, a member of the 57th Regular Course, who recently completed the Senior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. Security sources said the officer is being held alongside several others over what authorities described as a conspiracy aimed at destabilising the government. However, full details of the alleged plot remain unclear, as the Armed Forces…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, in what appears to be a dramatic turn in the protracted political crisis rocking the state. The decision was taken on Thursday during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, where lawmakers adopted a motion halting the impeachment process. The development followed a high-level political intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who recently met with Fubara; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; and key leaders of the Assembly in Abuja. Though details of the closed-door meeting were not made…

A Nigerian TikTok content creator, popularly known as Mirabel, has retracted her earlier allegation of rape, admitting that she may have hallucinated due to drug use. Mirabel, whose TikTok handle is @mirab351, had in a viral video alleged that an unidentified man sexually assaulted her at her residence in Ogun State, claiming that the suspect injured her with a blade. The allegation sparked outrage on social media and prompted widespread reactions, with many Nigerians calling for a thorough investigation. The Ogun State Police Command had subsequently confirmed that it commenced investigation into the claim. The state Police Public Relations Officer,…

Electricity generation companies under the aegis of the Association of Power Generation Companies have warned that the Federal Government’s N501bn power sector bond is insufficient to settle the mounting N6.6tn legacy debt in the industry, cautioning that the liquidity crisis could trigger a nationwide blackout if left unresolved. The Chief Executive Officer of the association, Dr Joy Ogaji, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television, where she painted a grim picture of the sector’s worsening financial strain. Ogaji said the industry’s legacy debt, which stood at N4tn as of December 2024, has continued to rise by about…

As Muslim and Christian faithful across Ogun State begin their respective holy seasons of Ramadan and Lent, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged residents to embrace love, unity, and compassion. Obasanjo, speaking on Wednesday, described the period as a sacred time for reflection, tolerance, and spiritual devotion to God. She emphasized the need for Nigerians to extend kindness to the less privileged. “The holy month of Ramadan is a sacred period of fasting that calls for reflection and devotion to draw closer to Almighty God. “We must show love and compassion among ourselves,”…

Fawaz Adebisi, a reporter with deep roots at Platform Times, has been nominated for the Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communications Skills in Advancing Community Development and Peace, a distinguished category of the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards. The recognition, drawn from 977 applicants across the Commonwealth, celebrates young journalists who harness media to promote social justice, accountability, and community development. Adebisi’s nomination underscores the impact of investigative journalism in shaping public discourse. He rose through the ranks from campus journalism to leading professional exposés on poverty, social neglect, and systemic challenges. As a team member of  the Investigative Desk at…

President Bola Tinubu has signed an executive order mandating that all oil and gas revenues be paid directly into the Federation Account, stripping the NNPC Limited of its authority to collect deductions previously earmarked for special funds. The order, announced on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, aims to safeguard national oil revenues, eliminate wasteful spending, and curb overlapping structures within the oil and gas sector. Under the new directive, the 30 percent profit from oil and gas under Production Sharing, Profit Sharing, and Risk Service Contracts previously allocated to the Frontier Exploration Fund—will now flow directly to the Federation…