Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  Maiduguri, Nigeria – In a landmark case, the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of two individuals, Goni Muhammad and Seidu Seriki Hamani, to seven years imprisonment for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme involving counterfeit gold purportedly belonging to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan. The defendants, Goni Muhammad and Seidu Seriki Hamani, were arraigned on May 16, 2022, before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.  They faced two-count charges related to conspiracy and obtaining under false pretense, with…

Daud Olatunji A  prominent Christian leader, Prof. Bature, the National President of Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, has praised President Bola  Tinubu for dispelling apprehensions surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).  Bature commended Tinubu for his judicious balance in making political appointments since taking office, thereby assuaging concerns raised by some Christians and their leaders regarding the emergence of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election. Tinubu, alongside Kashim Shettima, both Muslims, was selected as the presidential candidate and vice-presidential candidate of the APC, sparking controversy among some Christian groups.  Allegations surfaced that the…

Daud Olatunji In a significant legal development, Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly known as “Mama Boko Haram,” has been arraigned alongside two others, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.  They are facing charges of conspiracy and cheating, involving a substantial sum of N150,000,000. The trio, who held key positions at the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organization, are accused of dishonestly inducing Alhaji Bulama Bakki, the CEO of Bakki Commodity Investment Company Limited, and Ngumati Investment Company Limited in August 2018.  The alleged scam revolved around the…

Daud Olatunji The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the nation’s health system.  This comes in response to the shocking revelation that only 20% of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in the country are functional.  The lawmakers also pressed for a significant increase in the health sector’s budget for the year 2024. As disclosed by Fayinka Oluwatoyin, a member representing Mushin Federal Constituency II of Lagos State, Nigeria boasts approximately 39,983 hospitals and clinics as of 2020.  Primary healthcare centers constitute a significant portion of this count, accounting for around 34,000, or…

Fawaz Adebisi The Ogun State government has announced that it will host the 16th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Landscape Horticulturists (NILH) from November 20th to 24th, 2023. The event, which is organized by the Ogun State Chapter of the NILH, will take place at the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE) of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). According to a statement released on Saturday by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Local Organizing Committee, Mrs. O.V. Idowu and Mr. Hem Donatus respectively, the conference will provide…

Fawaz Adebisi  The Federal High Court in Sokoto, presided over by Justice Ahmad Mahmud, convicted Alhaji Umar Mohammed (aka Dan Bala) on four count charges of possession and dealing in 436.38kgs cannabis and 7kgs psychotropic drugs brought against him by NDLEA in October 2022. He was sentenced to two years on each of counts 1 and 2 with an option of N1million fine, and eight months on each of counts 3 and 4 without an option of fine. The development was confirmed by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday. In other news, NDLEA operatives have been active in the past…

Daud Olatunji  Crescent University Abeokuta, Ogun State, has installed Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the former Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, Mohammadu Buhari, as its new Chancellor. Gambari was made the Chancellor to succeed  the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, during its 15th Convocation held over the weekend. In a grand ceremony, Prof. Gambari was also honored with a Doctorate of Science (DSc.) Honoris Causa, alongside three other eminent Nigerians. His Highness Oba Moshood Ola Yusuf, Mr. Yakubu Layi Gobir, and Dr. Babatunde Wale-Okewale were recognized for their exceptional contributions to business, education, philanthropy, healthcare, and the accounting profession.…

Daud Olatunji In a dramatic turn of events, officers from the Ogun State Government-owned So-Safe Corps have successfully recovered a stolen vehicle during a face-off with suspected car thieves in the Ado-Odo area. The official statement from the Office of the State Commander of the Corps, led by Soji Ganzallo, recounts the extraordinary events that unfolded in the early hours of Saturday, October 14.  While on their routine patrol in the vicinity of Olorunleke Community, officers from the Ado-Odo Division spotted a group of individuals inside a Mercedes Benz vehicle. The spokesperson for So-Safe, Moruf Yusuf, revealed that the officers…

Daud Olatunji On the eve of World Food Day, Nigeria finds itself at the crossroads of an escalating food crisis that is pushing millions of its citizens to the brink of hunger.  Experts and stakeholders are pointing fingers at climate change, among other factors, as they call for swift intervention by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. While the global impact of climate change on food production is undeniable, Nigeria’s dire situation has been exacerbated by years of neglect in the agricultural sector and an overreliance on imported food items.  The recent foreign…

Celebrated Nigerian actor Adebayo Salami, affectionately known as “Oga Bello,” is approaching his 75th birthday with a deep sense of gratitude and an unwavering desire for divine grace to sustain his health and longevity.  In an exclusive conversation with R, the veteran actor, who has graced the Nigerian movie industry for decades, shared his remarkable journey and aspirations for the future. As Oga Bello prepares to celebrate this significant milestone in his life, he reflects on the challenges and blessings that have shaped his remarkable career.  Despite his age and the inherent health concerns that come with it, the actor…