Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Rivers State Government has told the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt that over N302 billion was expended during the six-month administration of former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), between March and August 2025. The disclosure was contained in a counter-affidavit filed before the court in response to a Freedom of Information suit instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project. The suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is seeking full disclosure of how public funds were spent during the period of emergency rule in the state. The government, through the Accountant-General’s office and the Ministry of Budget and…

A pastor, Dozie Ezani, has been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl, in a case that has sparked outrage in the community. Ezani, identified as the General Overseer of a church in Amichi, Nnewi South LocalGovernment Area, is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department following his arrest by operatives of astate-backed vigilante group. The suspect was reportedly apprehended at his poultry farm in Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, after security operatives acted on intelligence over his alleged illici trelationship with the minor. Spokesperson for the vigilante group, Karen James, disclosed that…

The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said Nigerians may push for a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Tinubu to remain in office beyond the constitutionally permitted two terms. Akanbi made the remark in a statement issued on Sunday to commemorate Tinubu’s 74th birthday, describing the President as a decisive leader whose policies have begun to reposition the country’s economy. According to the monarch, growing public confidence in Tinubu’s leadership could trigger calls for a review of the constitution to extend his tenure. “Many Nigerians may call for a constitutional review to enable Tinubu to serve more than two…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to donate all his salaries since assuming office to a special fund aimed at supporting personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and their families. The President disclosed this in a personally signed statement on Sunday to mark his 74th birthday, describing the move as a tribute to the sacrifices of military officers serving the nation. Tinubu said he had directed the Accountant-General of the Federation to establish a dedicated account for the fund, which will cater for wounded soldiers and families of fallen heroes. “On this my 74th birthday, I celebrate the valiant men…

The Nigerian Communications Commission has directed mobile network operators in the country to compensate subscribers experiencing poor quality of service, in a move aimed at strengthening consumer protection and accountability in the telecommunications sector. The commission said affected subscribers would receive compensation directly from operators whenever service delivery falls below prescribed Quality of Service Key Performance Indicators within specific locations. In a statement issued on Sunday by its Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, the regulator stressed that consumers should not bear the burden of network failures caused by operators’ inability to meet required standards. According to the NCC, the…

A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rasheed Kashamu, has thrown his weight behind the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the policies as tough but necessary steps towards repositioning Nigeria’s economy. Kashamu, who represents Ijebu North State Constituency I, spoke at the weekend in Abuja on the sidelines of the All Progressives Congress national convention, where he urged Nigerians to remain patient amid the current economic challenges. According to the lawmaker, the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration are laying a solid foundation for long-term national growth and global competitiveness. “These reforms are not…

A United States-based physician and board-certified paediatrician, Bolaji Odusina, has joined the African Democratic Congress as she declared her intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. Odusina, who recently concluded consultations on her political future, formally announced her decision in Abeokuta on Saturday, expressing readiness to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in what she described as a contest driven by ideas and credibility rather than political influence. The governorship hopeful said although the APC remains dominant in the state and is home to influential figures, she was optimistic that “underdogs” could still emerge victorious. “I am fully…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered a major drug trafficking operation involving cocaine concealed in dried fish heads, popularly known as “okporoko,” in a coordinated crackdown spanning multiple states. The agency disclosed on Sunday that the illicit consignment, weighing 5.80 kilograms, was intercepted by its Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command following credible intelligence on trans-border criminal activities. According to the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizure was made during a sting operation in the Ojo area of Lagos on March 19, 2026. Babafemi said operatives arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Akputa…

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, on Sunday congratulated Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 74th birthday, commending his administration’s efforts at improving infrastructure across the country. In a statement, Obasanjo described the President as a “courageous and visionary leader,” whose policies, particularly in the area of infrastructure, are beginning to yield tangible results. She noted that ongoing construction, rehabilitation and expansion of federal roads under Tinubu’s administration had significantly impacted Ogun State, enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities. According to her, the renewed focus on critical road infrastructure has…

The push for increased female participation in Nigeria’s political space intensified on Friday as the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and other female deputy governors called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to back the emergence of women as governors ahead of the 2027 general elections. The call came under the platform of the Female Deputy Governors Forum, which urged the ruling party to adopt a deliberate framework that would guarantee at least 35 per cent representation for women in elective and appointive positions across the country. The delegation, led by Salako-Oyedele, met with the APC National Chairman,…