Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Ministry of Finance has rejected allegations that Nigeria’s federation revenues are being diverted or concealed, insisting that recent reports suggesting “hidden spending” stem from a misinterpretation of the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, said the reports “misrepresent the World Bank’s analysis” and reflect a poor understanding of the country’s fiscal framework. The ministry specifically faulted claims surrounding deductions by the Federation Account Allocation Committee, noting that such deductions are legitimate and should not be classified as waste or missing funds. According to the…

Despite the disbursement of over N109.5bn from Nigeria’s Ecological Fund within three years, concerns are mounting over the country’s preparedness for the 2026 rainy season, with experts warning that many states remain highly vulnerable to flooding. Findings showed that between July 2023 and December 2025, a total of N109,516,046,114.35 was released to address ecological challenges, particularly flooding. The figures, sourced from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, indicated a steady increase in spending, rising from N21.1bn in the latter half of 2023 to N34.78bn in 2024, and peaking at N53.62bn in 2025. However, the rising financial commitment has…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as a coordinated attempt to implicate him in criminal activities and prolong his detention. El-Rufai, in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, alleged that recent developments point to “malicious orchestrations” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and undermining his legal standing. The former governor recalled that the alleged plot dates back to February 12, 2026, when he was reportedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at the Abuja airport from Cairo, describing the incident as an early indication of what he termed sustained…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has issued a strongly worded rebuttal to a critic identified as Kio, dismissing what he described as “theatrics” and “empty boasting” in an open letter circulating online. In the response titled “Re: Open Letter from Kio,” Showunmi rejected claims of impropriety over his recent engagement with President Bola Tinubu, insisting that his actions fall within his constitutional rights. “Your letter is long on theatrics and short on restraint,” Showunmi wrote, adding that the critic’s intervention was laden with “sweeping claims” but lacking in substance. He also dismissed any suggestion that…

The Kano State Judicial Service Commission has sanctioned several judicial officers and court staff over allegations of bribery, abuse of office and other forms of misconduct, in what it described as part of efforts to strengthen discipline and restore public confidence in the judiciary. The decisions were reached at the Commission’s 89th meeting held on April 16, 2026, according to a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Baba Jibo Ibrahim. He said the actions followed the adoption of findings by the Judiciary Public Complaints Committee after investigations into multiple petitions. The Commission reiterated its commitment to discipline, integrity and…

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, has expressed deep concern over escalating insecurity across parts of the South-West, Kwara and Kogi States, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to lives, livelihoods and regional stability. The monarch, in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Culture and Public Relations of the Alaafin’s Palace, Ademola Adeniyi-Kukulaja, called for urgent and intensified security interventions by both federal and state authorities to stem the tide of attacks in affected communities. Oba Owoade said the rising frequency and nature of violent incidents in the region demanded immediate attention, noting that…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said only 16 out of about 980 centres nationwide experienced disruptions in the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, describing the exercise as largely successful. The Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Saturday during a monitoring visit to Computer-Based Test centres in Ibadan, Oyo State, including the University of Ibadan CBT centre. Oloyede said the few challenges recorded were mainly due to power supply issues and minor technical glitches, noting that the board had successfully conducted examinations for over 1.7 million candidates within three days. “Out of about 980 centres nationwide, we have…

The planned defection of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress has collapsed following a disagreement over the control of party structures in the state. Findings by Platform Times indicate that negotiations between the governor’s camp and the APC leadership broke down after the ruling party rejected a proposed 60–40 power-sharing formula. The formula, reportedly tabled by Mohammed’s loyalists, sought to grant the governor’s faction majority control of the party structure in Bauchi, from the ward to the state level, in the event of his defection. However, the APC leadership declined the…

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Anambra State have arrested a suspected impersonator posing as a coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. The suspect, identified as Eric Nwombu, was apprehended on April 14 by officers attached to the Inspector-General of Police Safe School Initiative. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the development in a statement on Saturday, noting that the suspect was arrested for alleged criminal impersonation and unlawful possession of examination materials. Ikenga said the arrest followed a report that the suspect had been collecting 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination slips from unsuspecting…

Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections, as governorship aspirants across several states kick against what they describe as attempts to impose preferred candidates under the guise of consensus. The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission prepares political parties for primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Investigations  indicate that the ruling party is increasingly adopting consensus arrangements in selecting candidates, a move that has triggered protests, quiet resistance and fears of defections in key states. Growing resistance In Nasarawa State, divisions have deepened following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s…