Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government has clarified that no inmate has yet been released under the recent Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the process is still undergoing final administrative review. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), made this known in a statement on Thursday, amid growing public interest in the status of those listed for clemency. President Tinubu had recently approved the pardon of 175 Nigerians, including the late nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay; environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa; and the late Major-General Mamman Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 over alleged…

    …Reaffirms JAMB’s sole authority over tertiary admissions The Federal Government has dismissed reports circulating on social media and some online platforms claiming that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been scrapped as the body responsible for tertiary admissions in Nigeria. In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the claim as “false, misleading, and entirely baseless.” Dr. Alausa said neither the Ministry nor any authorized government agency issued such an announcement, insisting that…

Former Ogun State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Hon. Itunu Temitayo Abioro, has described the recent court judgment awarding ₦15 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force for breaching the rights of opposition politicians in Kaduna as a victory for democracy and justice. Abioro, in a statement made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Thursday, said the ruling reaffirmed Nigerians’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and sent a strong message to security agencies and politicians who abuse power. “I am grateful that justice finally prevails. Nigerians are guaranteed the right to peacefully assemble, and high-handedness or abuse of…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on the Federal Government to shut down schools in Nigeria that charge tuition fees in foreign currencies, describing the practice as one of the major leakages undermining the nation’s economic stability. Alake made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during the Nigeria Gold Day Celebration, held on the sidelines of the 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week, themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance.” The minister, who expressed dismay at the increasing number of schools demanding payment in dollars and pounds, said such institutions were contributing to…

There was confusion at an Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Thursday, when a middle-aged woman, identified as Mrs. Mulikat Yusuf, slumped shortly after her husband, Mr. Ishaq Abdulganiyu, insisted on ending their marriage. The incident, which caused a temporary disruption in court proceedings, occurred moments after Abdulganiyu told the presiding judge, Mr. Toyin Aluko, that he was no longer interested in the union. The visibly emotional wife, who had earlier pleaded with the court to reject her husband’s request for dissolution, reportedly lost consciousness as she walked out of the courtroom. “I have nowhere else to go…

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following a rigorous screening that lasted about three hours. Amupitan, who was nominated by President Bola Tinubu, faced intense questioning from Senators before his confirmation was unanimously approved through a voice vote presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Announcing the confirmation, Akpabio said Amupitan’s appointment was approved “without a single dissenting voice,” urging him to ensure that votes count and elections are credible under his leadership. During the screening, Amupitan dismissed reports that he served as legal counsel…

…Warns Security Agencies, Members Against Further Dealings With Them The national leadership of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, has suspended its state chairmen in Taraba, Bauchi, and Adamawa states over alleged misconduct, poor performance, and neglect of members’ welfare. The suspension, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement issued on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Mallam Mohammed Suleiman. Suleiman said the decision followed “several petitions and complaints” received from Fulani pastoralists in the affected states, which were investigated by the national leadership before the sanctions were imposed.…

… Police Launch Investigation, Recover Empty Sachets Of Suspected Substance A Customs officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) Lawal Tukur, has been found dead under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in Katsina State after allegedly spending the night with three women. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday, October 15, at Murjani Hotel, located in the heart of Katsina metropolis. Sources said the deceased, who had checked into the hotel the previous night, was found lifeless in his room around 8:30 a.m. by hotel staff, who immediately raised an alarm. A hotel employee, who spoke on…

An Open Letter to the Honourable Minister of Interior: A Call to Account for the Abandoned Roads of Your Local Government. Date: 15th October, 2025 From: The Concerned Youth and Stakeholders of Akoko North West, Ondo State To: The Honourable Minister of Interior, Federal Ministry of Interior, Abuja. Your Ministerial Neglect and the Failure of Home-Based Representation Sir, We, the concerned youth, community leaders, and long-suffering constituents of Akoko North, write to you with a profound sense of betrayal and disillusionment. Our message focuses on the catastrophic and life-threatening condition of the federal roads that crisscross the land that produced…

…Urges State To Fund Urban Development Through Land Swap Daud Olatunji  A renowned urban planner and former  Head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Lagos, Prof. Leke Odunwaye, has warned that Ogun State stands the risk of chaotic and uncoordinated development if it fails to implement comprehensive settlement planning. Speaking with journalists after delivering a lecture at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State chapter, Prof. Odunwaye said the state’s rapid growth demands urgent and structured planning to prevent future urban crises. According to him, “Ogun State is developing…