Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Labour Party chieftain, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as lacking political sense, while praising President Bola Tinubu for his focus and determination. In an interview aired on TrustTV in January, Baba-Ahmed said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is “a coalition of politicians who do not have a Tinubu, a Buhari, or a Jonathan,” referring to Nigeria’s past leaders he considered strategic and pragmatic. “They don’t have a Tinubu. Tinubu was focused, resourced, and determined. They don’t have it in ADC,” Baba-Ahmed said. He added…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja was on Thursday thrown into fresh uncertainty as Justice Obiora Egwuatu withdrew from the trial of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in the ongoing N8.7bn money laundering case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Justice Egwuatu announced his decision at the resumed proceedings, stating that he would no longer preside over the two matters involving the former minister for personal reasons and in the interest of justice. The withdrawal marks another twist in the high-profile prosecution of Malami, who is facing…

A police officer attached to the Police Mobile Force, Minna, has been beaten to death by a mob of suspected illegal miners during a violent clash at a mining site in Niger State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred around 1:45pm on Tuesday at a mining site belonging to Millennium Metals in the Zunzungi area of the state. The deceased officer, identified as PC Emmanuel Samson of MOPOL 12, was reportedly on joint patrol with operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps assigned to mining materials protection when the team was attacked. Sources said the NSCDC operatives…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has cautioned Nigerians against presenting cash as “money bouquets” during Valentine’s Day celebrations, declaring the practice a form of naira abuse punishable under the law. In an advisory issued on Thursday via its official social media handle, the apex bank listed money bouquets alongside offences such as spraying, squeezing, writing on, selling and defacing the naira. Money bouquets involve folding banknotes into petal-like shapes and arranging them in the form of flowers for gifting purposes — a trend that has gained popularity during romantic celebrations and social events. The CBN stressed that mutilating or tampering…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested three men in Maiduguri, Borno State, over alleged mutilation of the naira after a viral video showed them using a N500 note to clean their nose. The suspects — Adam Muhammad, Muhammad Muhammad and Bashir Musa — were apprehended by operatives of the anti-graft agency following the circulation of the video on social media. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the clip, which sparked outrage online, showed one of the suspects allegedly defacing the Nigerian currency in contravention of provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, which criminalises the abuse and mutilation of…

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, has visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, even as he faces criminal charges filed by the Federal Government over an alleged forgery linked to a disputed property in the United Kingdom. . Ozekhome shared photographs of the visit on his verified (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday night, showing him in a relaxed moment with the former President. In the pictures, Obasanjo was dressed in a blue traditional attire with a matching cap, while Ozekhome appeared in a cream-coloured native outfit. Captioning the post, the senior lawyer wrote, “Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, cooling…

The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday protested what he described as an attempted unlawful arrest and seizure of his international passport at an airport upon his return to Nigeria. In a statement issued by his counsel, Akpan, the former governor accused authorities of violating his fundamental human rights, including his rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, dignity of the human person, freedom of movement, and ownership of property. Akpan said that despite prior intelligence suggesting plans to arrest El-Rufai on arrival, the former governor went ahead with his return after medical treatment and rest abroad,…

The Dangote Group has called for stronger public-private partnerships to boost industrialisation, create jobs, and reduce import dependence, as it showcased its industrial might at Dangote Special Day during the 15th Gateway International Trade Fair in Abeokuta yesterday. Speaking through Tunde Mabogunje, Regional Sales Director, Lagos, Fatima Aliko-Dangote, Executive Director of Commercial Operations, said the trade fair, themed “Promoting Businesses through Partnership”, perfectly aligns with the Group’s Vision 2030 roadmap to accelerate industrial expansion and spur cross-border investments. “Our presence underlines Dangote Industries’ commitment to deepen commerce, strengthen value chains, and open markets for manufacturers, MSMEs, and consumers across the…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid received a significant boost yesterday as thousands of youths in Ogun State declared their support for his 2027 campaign. The youths also reaffirmed their backing for Governor Dapo Abiodun’s ambition to represent Ogun East in the Senate. The show of support followed a loyalty walk organized in Ijebu-Ode, where young people thronged major streets, waving banners and singing solidarity songs in support of the APC leadership at both state and federal levels. Addressing the gathering at the Awujale Pavilion, Hon. Dapo Okubadejo, Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Ogun State Government,…

The Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, has announced the death of a former Director of Programmes at the Ogun State Television and past Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria in the state, Alhaji Akeem Akintunde. Akintunde, a seasoned broadcaster and respected sports journalist, reportedly died on Wednesday night after a protracted illness. In a statement signed by the Ogun NUJ Secretary, Bunmi Adigun, the council described his death as a painful loss to the journalism profession and the sporting community in Ogun State and beyond. According to the statement, the late media practitioner’s passing marked the…