Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government has filed a suit seeking $79.51 billion and N231 million in compensation from Binance Holdings Limited, accusing the global cryptocurrency exchange of causing significant economic losses in Nigeria. In a case brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 11, the government claims that Binance deliberately operated in secrecy despite its substantial economic footprint in Nigeria. The suit, which is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1444/2024, alleges that Binance violated numerous financial and tax regulations, including the Companies Income Tax Act, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Regulatory Framework for Mobile…

The Netherlands has announced its decision to return 119 Benin Bronzes, looted during the 1897 British raid on Benin City, to Nigeria. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this marks the largest return of such antiquities to Nigeria, signaling a significant step in addressing historical injustices. In a statement issued by the Dutch embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, Eppo Bruin, the Dutch Minister for Education, Culture, and Science, expressed that the bronzes should never have been taken to the Netherlands in the first place. Bruin emphasized that this restitution would help “redress a historical injustice that is still being felt today,” adding,…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to local government (LG) chairmen across Nigeria, emphasizing that they are not immune to investigation or prosecution for corruption. Speaking at the Gombe State Local Government Summit on Wednesday, Olukoyede made it clear that the anti-graft agency will not hesitate to take action against any chairperson involved in fraudulent activities, regardless of their tenure. “No local government chairman is immune, and we will not wait until the end of your tenure to take action,” Olukoyede stated, stressing the importance of accountability in…

No fewer than eight people were reportedly  injured on Tuesday after a hunter’s gun accidentally discharged during the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) national convention in Demsa Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The incident occurred when a member of the Hunters Association from Kukta Village, Song Local Government Area, was carrying a dane gun as part of the event’s security. According to the police spokesperson, SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, the weapon fell from the hunter’s hands, causing it to discharge sporadically, leading to the injuries. The eight victims are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Demsa,…

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi, has reassured Nigerians that the country is not at risk of food scarcity, despite growing concerns in certain quarters. Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday, Abdullahi addressed fears over food security, asserting that Nigeria remains secure in its food supply. He emphasized that President Bola Tinubu is fully aware of the critical importance of food security, which led to his declaration of a state of emergency just two months after taking office. “Let me react to the headline I saw you talking about, risk of food scarcity. Nigeria is…

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Nigerian pastor, Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi, for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud the U.S. government of COVID-19 relief funds. Oluwasanmi, in collaboration with Osun monarch Oba Joseph Oloyede, is accused of fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million in federal loans intended to help struggling businesses during the pandemic. Oluwasanmi, a U.S.-based pastor, used his companies—Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation—to secure millions of dollars in relief funds. The loans, meant for businesses facing financial challenges, were later diverted by the pastor for personal use, in violation of U.S. federal laws.…

Ayomide Awe A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party and the Collegiate Chairman in Abeokuta-North, Hon. Adeshina Olaleye, has reaffirmed the credibility of th governorship ca didate in 2923 election in the state, Ladi Adebutu as the true grassroots politician among the current crop of governorship aspirants in Ogun State. Speaking at the Abeokuta North Local Government Collegiate Council Meeting, Olaleye emphasized that unlike some aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebutu’s paternal and maternal origins are undisputed. “Adebutu is a true son of the soil,” Olaleye said, adding that he has lived and operated his business in Ogun…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi The Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf, has called for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in town planning activities across Nigeria. Speaking as the guest speaker at the 11th Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series, organized by the Nigeria Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter, Yusuf emphasized that integrating AI into urban planning would enhance productivity and efficiency. The lecture, held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in honour of Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, a former president of NITP, coincided with his birthday. Kadiri’s enduring contributions to the progress of the physical planning profession in Nigeria…

Ayomide Awe Residents of the Oke-Masho Community Development Association in Omida, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest against the blockage of their community’s entrance by the MRS Filling Station. The protestors expressed their frustrations over the impact the blockage has had on their daily lives and businesses. According to reports gathered by Platform Times, the MRS Filling Station, which previously served as a key access point to the community, began renovations on August 12, 2024. This renovation led to the closure of the entrance, sparking confusion and anger among residents. Local businesses have been particularly affected, with…

The Lagos state house of assembly has denied reports of the defection of 27 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party (LP). A statement issued on Wednesday by Ogundipe Olukayode, chairman of the house committee on information, strategy and security, said the APC remains “united and focused”. He said reports of the “mass defection” from the ruling APC is “riddled with inaccuracies and outright falsehoods”. “The Lagos state house of assembly wishes to categorically debunk the malicious and unfounded publication alleging that twenty-seven members of the assembly are planning to defect from the ruling party to…