Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken legal action against Christopher Otabor, the medical director of Alliance Hospital in Abuja, and three others, over accusations of involvement in organ harvesting. Otabor, Emmanuel Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, and Aremu Abayomi were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Zuba on Monday, facing charges related to trafficking in persons and illegal organ removal. According to the prosecution counsel, Hassan Tahir, Olorunlaye allegedly recruited two 17-year-old boys and a 25-year-old man, Aminu Yahuza, for kidney removal procedures at Alliance Hospital in February 2023.  PLATFORM TIMES…

A Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the comprehensive data or information of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order after ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho. “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February 2024, is hereby granted as prayed. “That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform,”…

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has disclosed his initial reluctance to construct a road in Okpoko community, Ogbaru Local Government Area, due to the political affiliation of the House of Representatives member representing the area, Noble Igwe. During the inauguration of 12 km of roads in Okpoko, Soludo admitted that he had dismissed complaints about the poor state of Nwokedi Street because Igwe was in the opposition party at the time. “I rejected the advice to develop Nwokedi Street because the House member representing the area was formerly in the opposition.  “As of the time he brought the poor…

The Federal Government has disbursed N12.7 billion for the installation of meters  in the army barracks nationwide. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the  allocation is part of the larger N40 billion mass metering project aimed at improving billing accuracy and ensuring efficient collection processes. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this announcement during the commencement of the metering exercise at the headquarters of the 9th brigade of the Nigerian army, located in Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos State.  Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Adelabu emphasized that the implementation of meters in army formations will provide crucial insights into monthly consumption patterns,…

A  Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has condemned five individuals to death by hanging for the murder of Umezuruike Alex,the commander of the local vigilante group known as OSPAC in Omudioga community, Emohua Local Government Area of the  State.  The court, presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku, convicted individuals, namely Okechukwu Orji, hailing from Atali community in Obio-Akpor, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe, and Morrison Igwe from Omudioga in Emohua LGA, alongside Goodness Monday from Akwa Ibom State. They were found guilty on multiple charges including conspiracy, cultism, murder, and illegal possession of firearms. Remarkably, the sixth defendant in…

The Federal Government of Nigeria is in advanced discussions with the World Bank to secure loans totaling over $1 billion aimed at addressing critical issues affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and enhancing agricultural development in the nation. The proposed loans, outlined in World Bank documents titled ‘Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project’ and ‘Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up,’ are earmarked to tackle challenges faced by IDPs and their host communities, as well as to bolster rural infrastructure and agricultural marketing efforts across Nigeria. According to the documents, the loan request includes $500 million…

An Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced a man, Adam Francis, to 38 years imprisonment for robbing a motorist of her necklace, wristwatch, United Bank of Africa (UBA) cards and the sum of N50,000. Justice Oyindamola Ogala in her judgment held that the prosecution had successfully proved the three count charge of armed robbery, conspiracy and assault against Francis. Ogala said the standard of proof was beyond every reasonable doubt and that the prosecution had been able to discharge the burden of proof placed on it. She affirmed that the offensive weapons were used by Francis to carry out the…

A  middle-aged man identified as Sunday Odechukwu has been  accused of brutally assaulting his wife, Mrs. Augustina Odechukwu, with a machete, resulting in severe cuts to her body in Akure,Ondo State. The 40-year-old victim, originally from Ebonyi State, recounted how her husband, a native of Anambra State, launched the attack on Sunday at their residence along Oda Road, Akure.  She revealed that their relationship had soured over the past year, with communication between them breaking down completely.  Additionally, she lamented that her husband had ceased providing for her and their children. Despite her husband’s demands for them to vacate the…

Daud Olatunji In January 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released data shedding light on the increasing cost of eating  a healthy diet in Nigeria.  The average Nigerian now spends N858 per day, a significant surge from the N786 reported just a month prior, marking a 9.16 per cent  increase.  This upward trajectory in expenses is reflective of a broader economic challenge, with inflation hitting an all-time high of 29.90 per cent  by January 2024. Delving into regional disparities, the data highlights the South West zone as the most expensive region for healthy dietary habits, with an average daily…

A suspected quack medical practitioner, Mr. Echi Michael, has been apprehended during an interview for the position of Medical Officer at the Port Harcourt Military Hospital. The arrest was orchestrated by the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which had been monitoring Michael’s activities closely. Accusations against Mr. Michael include operating with counterfeit documents and falsely representing himself as a qualified medical doctor. Dr. Hope Avundaa, the Secretary of the Rivers State NMA chapter, revealed that Mr. Michael’s fraudulent activities came to light when he attempted to obtain an NMA ID card using forged credentials, including a…