Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged corruption involving inflated severance payments and illicit foreign currency transactions. The arraignment, initiated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, followed a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and fraud. El-Rufai was docked alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga, before Justice Ridwan Aikawa. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following their pleas, the court ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the anti-graft agency pending further proceedings. The former governor had reportedly…

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, prolonging his stay in custody over alleged corruption charges. El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on allegations bordering on conversion of public property and money laundering. The former governor was brought to court under tight security at about 9:00 a.m., arriving in a Hilux vehicle. He remained in the vehicle for about 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom amid the presence of heavily armed…

A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Salami (retd.), has said that the candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, was not qualified to contest the poll, citing constitutional provisions on party membership. Salami also expressed concerns over what he described as declining standards within the judiciary, attributing some controversial judgments to incompetence among certain judges. The retired jurist spoke on Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara State, during a courtesy visit by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, where he was honoured for his contributions to the legal profession. According to…

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a pastor and two other suspects for allegedly being in possession of suspected human parts in Ibadan. The suspects were apprehended during a stop-and-search operation carried out by police operatives along the Adekile area of Agugu, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Ayanlade Olayinka. The police said the operation led to the interception of an unregistered Bajaj Boxer motorcycle conveying a suspicious package. “During a search, the rider was apprehended on the spot, and a package containing flesh suspected to be human parts was recovered,” the…

Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, has revealed that controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, broke down in tears and displayed signs of distress upon arrival in prison. Baba Ijesha disclosed this during an interview with actress and media personality, Biola Bayo, where he recounted his experience with Bobrisky during their time in detention. According to him, contrary to widespread speculation that the social media personality enjoyed preferential treatment or was lodged in a hotel facility, Bobrisky was held in a regular cell and struggled to cope with the harsh conditions. He said, “When Bobrisky got to the cell, he was crying and rolling…

A Kano State High Court has nullified the emergence of Alhaji Abdullahi Ghali-Shitu Basaf as Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Council, setting aside his certificate of return over what it described as a breach of court orders. In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, Justice Abdu Maiwada-Abubakar held that the process leading to Basaf’s recognition as chairman was rooted in disobedience to a valid subsisting court order. The suit was instituted by Ali Musa-Danmalki, who challenged his replacement as candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party for the Kumbotso Local Government chairmanship election. Musa-Danmalki, through his counsel, S.B. Wadau and Jazuli…

A Lagos-based real estate syndicate, allegedly led by Lawrence Onwukwem and Isaiah Ijele, has been dragged into fresh controversy following a petition accusing the group of fraud, illegal eviction, and violent intimidation, even as key members remain in hiding after a court conviction. The syndicate, reportedly operating under the name Green Birch Tech Limited, alongside associates Davies Ijele, Sodiq Kazeem, and Peace Igbo, is accused of defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians through dubious property rental schemes. In a recent petition, a Lagos resident, Oyinkansola Talabi, accused the group of orchestrating a midnight invasion of her apartment at Pebblerock Apartments in the Oniru…

By Maryam Ogunremi  For days I have been thinking about CAF’s Appeal Board’s decision to strip Senegal of its championship at the AFCON 2025, which was held in Morocco. I know this is coming days after, but I just can’t get over it. A lot has been said by experts and those of us who are just lovers of the round leather game. While some are in support of it, some are neutral and others have lambasted the ruling by the board which is said to be headed by a Nigerian. I don’t blame her for the Board’s ruling like…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of steering Nigeria toward authoritarianism, alleging that the federal government is increasingly weaponising state institutions to intimidate political opponents and suppress dissent. Atiku, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the allegation on Monday while reacting to what he described as a “state-sponsored siege” on the properties of former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The former vice president claimed that the DSS sealed Malami’s residences and business premises shortly after he was visited by…

The Federal Government has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) with the responsibility of safeguarding over N28 trillion pension assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), urging strict adherence to corporate governance principles and regulatory frameworks. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the board, describing PenCom as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s financial system, entrusted with managing the retirement savings of millions of workers across the country. Akume said the board carries a “nationally significant mandate” that requires…