Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Auomide Awe At least 43 people are feared dead after inhaling toxic fumes during an alleged illegal fuel siphoning operation at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area of Rivers State. The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday when a large number of youths from neighbouring communities converged on the jetty in wooden boats to siphon petroleum products from an illegally connected pipeline tapping point. Community sources said more than 200 youths were at the scene when the operation went awry, with several victims reportedly losing consciousness after being exposed to concentrated fumes. Some of those affected were said…

Daud Olatunji The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested the Superior General of the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Mother Martha Nkiru Offo, over allegations surrounding the removal, detention and purported forced psychiatric treatment of a junior nun, Rev. Sr. Mercy Chinwe Nnamchi. Offo was reportedly arrested on Thursday and is being questioned by the police over the circumstances surrounding Nnamchi’s alleged removal from her internship duty post at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, on May 30, 2026. A source familiar with the matter told SaharaReporters that the superior general was in police custody as investigators…

Daud Olatunji The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the Presidency to explain the circumstances surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s reported forfeiture of $460,000 in the United States rather than attacking the Washington-based lobbying firm he engaged. Atiku’s challenge followed criticism from the Presidency over his $1.2m engagement of Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., a US lobbying firm, to strengthen his reputation and counter what his camp described as the Federal Government’s lobbying narratives in the United States. The former Vice-President, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said on Wednesday that the Presidency was…

Zainab Abioye The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has ordered operatives of the agency to stop arresting people over civil disputes, saying such matters should be handled through the courts. Ajayi said the directive formed part of reforms introduced under his leadership to strengthen the rule of law, improve accountability and protect human rights within the secret police. The DSS boss disclosed this during a media interview on Thursday, where he outlined reforms in the agency covering law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, accountability, human rights, as well as infrastructural and administrative development. He said the reforms had…

Daud Olatunji A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation to grant detained Director-General of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, Adeniyi Adeyemi, unhindered access to his lawyers. Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on Thursday while ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed by Adeyemi, who is being detained in connection with allegations of forgery, fraud and impersonation. The court, however, declined to grant Adeyemi’s applications for immediate release, bail and access to medical treatment at this stage. Instead, the judge directed the respondents to show cause within…

Zainab Abioye Akmode Transport Limited has threatened to institute contempt and defamation proceedings against the Ogun State Government over a press release allegedly describing the company as an “unapproved” motorcycle organisation operating in the state.  The threat was contained in a September 1, 2026 letter by the company’s solicitors, Bolarinwa Odeyale & Co., addressed to the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The lawyers demanded the immediate withdrawal and public retraction of the August 30 press release, an apology to Akmode and clarification of the government’s position on the company. According to the solicitors, the publication was inconsistent with…

…. Ekiti, Bayelsa, Niger Record Faster Recurrent Spending As Capital Projects Lag ….Spending Equals 4,713 Times Govs’ Combined Six-Month Basic Salaries …33 States Spend Big On Govt Houses, Govs’ Offices, Travel Daud Olatunji State governments spent at least N512.10bn on Government Houses, governors’ offices and travel and transport in the first six months of 2026, raising fresh questions about spending priorities and the pace at which public funds are being converted into infrastructure and public services. An analysis of state Budget Implementation Reports showed that N420.01bn was spent under Government House, Governor’s Office and related executive administration heads, while another…

Daud Olatunji Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has warned newly inaugurated local government chairmen that they risk losing their positions if they fail to deliver victory for the All Progressives Congress in their respective councils in the 2027 elections. Nwifuru issued the warning on Tuesday in Abakaliki, the state capital, while inaugurating chairmen and vice-chairmen elected to administer the 13 local government areas of the state. The governor said the council chairmen would be held directly responsible for the electoral performance of the APC in their respective local government areas. He declared that any chairman who failed to secure victory…

Suliat Lawal A man identified as Tajudeen Yekini has allegedly killed his wife, Tioyin Edunjobi, at their residence in Ogungbade village, near Ayerose, in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. The incident reportedly occurred around 10:30pm on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with the couple’s son said to have witnessed the incident and raised the alarm. Neighbours reportedly rushed to the apartment following the alarm and found Edunjobi lying motionless. The police were subsequently alerted, prompting operatives from the Kemta Police Station to visit the scene. A police source said detectives evacuated the woman’s body and deposited it at…

Oluwanifemi Ibikunle The United States Government may introduce new requirements compelling parents and legal guardians to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status before their children can obtain US passports. The proposed measure is contained in a draft guidance being considered by the US Department of State as part of President Donald Trump’s renewed efforts to restrict birthright citizenship and curb what his administration describes as “birth tourism.” Reuters, which cited the draft document, reported that the proposed policy would require parents to submit evidence of their citizenship or lawful immigration status when applying for passports on behalf of…