Author: Platform Times Newspaper

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces a grave threat if corruption and indiscipline are allowed to fester within the judiciary. Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, Tinubu said the integrity of judges remains the nation’s last line of defence against tyranny, instability and loss of public trust. “History has shown that whenever Nigeria faced moments of uncertainty, the judiciary stood firm as the stabilising force of our national life,” the president said. “It is through the courage of judges and their pronouncements that tyranny…

Daud Olatunji The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, to five years imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually harassing his female students. Justice James Omotosho convicted Ndifon on two out of the four-count charges filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The court handed him two years on the first count and five years on the second, but ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The judgment brings to an end a long-drawn case that had triggered…

A top Nigerian Army officer, Brigadier General M. Uba, has been killed by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) after the terrorists allegedly intercepted and tracked his live location along the Damboa–Biu axis of Borno State, multiple military sources confirmed on Sunday. The senior officer, who commanded the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, was abducted late Friday during a violent ambush that also claimed the lives of soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. He was later executed after a brief interrogation in captivity. It was gathered that the attack occurred shortly after General…

Panic broke out on Monday in the Agbowa area of Lagos State after a man suspected to be mentally unstable snatched an AK-47 rifle from a soldier at a military checkpoint and shot him dead. The shocking incident occurred at the Adeogun Bridge axis along the Ikorodu expressway, causing commuters and residents to flee in fear as soldiers scrambled to restore order. It was  gathered from security sources that the attacker, described as “a mentally deranged man,” had wandered close to the checkpoint before suddenly lunging at the unsuspecting soldier. “A mentally unstable man snatched a soldier’s rifle and shot…

The Executive Chairman of Obafemi Owode Local Government, Amb. Adesina ‘Lanre Ogunsola, has listed key achievements recorded in his first year in office, declaring that his administration has delivered “equitable dividends of democracy” across the council area. Speaking during a media chat to commemorate his one-year stewardship, Ogunsola expressed satisfaction with what he described as the “steady and measurable progress” made under his leadership. He highlighted major interventions in education, infrastructure, health and rural development, saying, “We promised purposeful governance, and in one year, we have worked across sectors, wards and communities to justify the trust of our people.” Ogunsola…

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide diabetes screening and training programme, beginning with the deployment of over 77,000 locally manufactured glucose monitoring devices to primary healthcare centres and diagnosed patients across the country. The large-scale initiative, flagged off this week in the North-Central region, aims to screen five million Nigerians in all 774 Local Government Areas, as part of efforts to curb the growing burden of diabetes and strengthen early detection. The exercise follows the government’s procurement of Nigeria-made OnPoint Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems, produced by Colexa Biosensor Ltd at its Lagos facility. Speaking at the launch, the National…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, have engaged in a fresh war of words following a controversial “thank you” message Fayose sent to the elder statesman after attending his recent birthday celebration. Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, disclosed on Monday that the former president received an SMS from Fayose shortly after the event. The message, which Fayose tagged a “thank you” note, took a harsh and personal tone. Fayose had recently met Obadanjo at his Abeokuta residence  which gave an impression that the duo had resolved their differences that started 19 years ago.…

… Courts Must Focus On Rehabilitation, Not punishment … Traditional Courts Needed To Bridge Justice Gap … Rural Residents Struggle To Access Justice Daud Olatunji The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure branch, has called for urgent reforms in the nation’s correctional system, describing it as largely punitive and ineffective in rehabilitating inmates. At the conclusion of its Law Week, held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, the association lamented that Nigeria’s prisons fail to reintegrate former offenders, creating a cycle of repeat crimes. The NBA stressed the need for the full implementation of the Correctional Service…

Public health advocacy groups have thrown their weight behind the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles of 200ml and below, describing the regulatory action as a “long-overdue intervention” to protect vulnerable Nigerians. In a joint statement on Sunday, the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) said the ban, which targets products that make highly potent alcohol cheaply and easily accessible, is crucial to safeguarding children, youths, and other at-risk populations. The groups highlighted…

….Consumers In Abia, Benue, Imo, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa rejoice ….Improved Farm Supply, Better Security Boost Market Availability Consumers in Benue, Abia, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states are rejoicing over the sharp drop in prices of most foodstuffs in markets. A cross-section of consumers said on Sunday in the states that prices of most foodstuffs, especially grains, had dropped significantly. A Makurdi resident, Victoria Ogwuche, said she could now buy a mudu of beans at the rate of N1,500 as against N2,300 in 2024. Mrs Ogwuche said she could now purchase a half tin of rice (half of 25 kg…