Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Nigerian Bar Association, Abeokuta Branch, has directed its members to boycott courts across the Ogun State capital for three days in protest against what it described as anti-justice policies introduced by the state judiciary. The boycott, scheduled for July 6 to July 8, 2026, will affect proceedings at the Ogun State High Court, the Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates’ Courts, and Customary Courts within Abeokuta. The directive was contained in a statement issued on Monday, by the branch’s Publicity Secretary, Abdulbasit Abolade Shuaib. According to the NBA, the decision followed months of unsuccessful engagements with the Ogun State Judiciary…

The Benue State Police Command has arrested 10 suspects in connection with the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in the state, Ardo Risku Mohammed, and another victim, Yakubu Isa. The command said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations carried out by its tactical teams on the night of Friday, June 27, in Otukpo Local Government Area. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Udeme Edet, disclosed the development in a statement on Saturday, describing the arrests as a major breakthrough in the investigation into the double murder. According to the police,…

…Probe Targets $2.79bn Rehabilitation Contracts …Ex-MDs, Contractors Implicated …Officials Accused Of Diverting Rehabilitation Funds Daud Olatunji  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered cash and assets worth N38.66bn in its sweeping investigation into the alleged diversion of funds allocated for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries, with several former and serving officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and contractors now facing possible prosecution. The anti-graft agency is probing the management of about $2.79bn released between 2021 and 2023 for the rehabilitation and turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries. Investigators allege that despite the huge…

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed an imam and three other residents and abducted 12 persons during a midnight attack on Illela Dawagware village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The attackers, said to be about 30 in number, reportedly stormed the community on nine motorcycles at about 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, firing sporadically and operating for nearly 30 minutes before fleeing with their victims. Residents said the gunmen first invaded the residence of the village imam before killing him and three others. They thereafter moved from house to house, abducting eight women and four men. A…

A woman identified as the wife of a fighter of the Islamic State West Africa Province has surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai in Borno State with her two-month-old baby after reportedly fleeing the terrorist group’s enclave. The woman, identified as Falmata Bakwai, surrendered to troops of the 19 Brigade at Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area at about 10:15 a.m. on June 26, according to intelligence sources. Sources said Bakwai escaped from the ISWAP enclave at Dogon Chuku while her husband and other fighters were away from the camp. During a preliminary debriefing by security personnel, she…

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Ardo Risku, insisting that everyone involved in the attack must be brought to justice. The Sultan, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MACBAN, made the call in a condolence message issued on Saturday through the association’s National President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma. He expressed deep sorrow over Risku’s death, describing him as a respected community leader whose lifelong commitment to peace…

…Cites $2m UBA Senegal Heist …Orders Lighter Cybersecurity Measures Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over the growing threat of cyber-enabled Automated Teller Machine attacks across Africa, warning Nigerian banks to urgently strengthen their cybersecurity systems to prevent similar breaches. The alert followed the recent theft of more than $2 million from the United Bank for Africa’s operations in Senegal through thousands of fraudulent ATM withdrawals. The warning was contained in a high-risk cybersecurity advisory issued on June 25 by the Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team, an agency under the Office of the National Security Adviser. According…

A video circulating on social media showing armed bandits displaying large sums of cash allegedly obtained from ransom payments has triggered renewed concerns over Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis. The footage, which surfaced on Saturday, was shared by conflict reporter Bakatsine, who covers insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West. Posting the video on his X handle, the journalist wrote, “This video shows bandits flaunting money obtained through ransom payments. May Allah bring an end to this tragedy and grant Nigeria lasting peace.” PLATFORM TIMES could not independently verify the authenticity of the video or the claim that the cash was derived from ransom…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has declared an industrial dispute with the Federal Government and issued a fresh four-week ultimatum for the resolution of its outstanding demands, warning that it may embark on a nationwide strike if the issues remain unresolved. The decision was reached during the association’s Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held virtually on Saturday to review developments following the expiration of its earlier 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. In a communiqué jointly signed by the NARD President, Dr. Mohammad  Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association…

A concerned indigene of Ogun State, Ibrahim Afolabi, has challenged the senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to publicly address questions surrounding his ancestry, identity and source of wealth. Afolabi, who spoke in Abeokuta on Sunday, said the questions became necessary following a recent reception organised in Kemta, where Adeola described the event as a “glorious homecoming” hosted by his maternal family and supporters. The senator had reportedly said the reception was organised by the people of Kemta to welcome him as one of their own and to endorse his reported political ambition.…