Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi The former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (retd.), has recounted how he narrowly escaped death during his 56-day ordeal in captivity, attributing his survival to divine intervention. Tsiga, who was abducted alongside nine other residents from his hometown, Tsiga, in the Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State on February 5, was reunited with his family in Abuja on Thursday. The reunion, facilitated by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also saw 18 other victims regain freedom. Speaking on his harrowing experience, Tsiga said surviving the terrorists’ den was nothing short…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central Senatorial District has declared her intention to soon provide evidence of sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, asserting her readiness to disclose details “at the right time and space.” Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Thursday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized the importance of presenting her evidence, despite the delayed response, following the rejection of a petition for her recall by the electoral umpire INEC. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan further expressed satisfaction with INEC’s decision, considering it a step in the right direction. She reiterated her determination to substantiate her claims against Senator Akpabio,…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that a significant majority of corruption cases it investigates relate to the misappropriation of funds earmarked for critical sectors such as healthcare and infrastructure. This revelation was made by the Chairman of ICPC, Musa Aliyu (SAN), during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Thursday. Aliyu emphasized that the commission’s investigations have revealed alarming trends where over 60% of corruption cases at the local government level involve the diversion of public resources intended for vital projects. Speaking at the event to introduce ICPC’s Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme…

Two men were on Thursday arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, for allegedly exhuming a female corpse from a cemetery and dismembering the body for ritual purposes. The defendants, Ridwan Bello, 42, also known as ‘Asalailu,’ and Fatai Adeleke, 70, were charged with conspiracy, unlawful possession of human parts, interference with the dead, and breach of public peace. According to the prosecutor, ASP Foluke Adedosu, the accused, along with others who remain at large, conspired to commit the crime. She alleged that on March 18, around 3:00 a.m., Bello was found in possession of human…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have slipped out of Africa’s top five football teams in the latest FIFA world rankings, despite moving up one spot globally to 43rd. According to the rankings released on Thursday, Nigeria lost its place as the fifth-best team on the continent, falling to sixth, as AFCON 2023 winners Ivory Coast climbed five places to 41st globally, overtaking the Eagles. The ranking reflects Nigeria’s inconsistent performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they sit fourth in Group C with just seven points from six matches. Their latest outing—a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe—further dampened their chances…

Daud Olatunji The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the recall petition against the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that the petition failed to meet the constitutional requirement. In a statement issued on Thursday, April 3, 2025, INEC revealed that after reviewing the signatures and thumbprints submitted by petitioners, the total count stood at 208,132, which represents 43.86% of the 474,554 registered voters in the senatorial district. The statement said this falls short of the required 237,278 signatures needed for a valid recall, making the petition ineligible for further action under Section 69(a) of the 1999…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi The Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has commenced its 11th Triennial National Conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, celebrating a remarkable 101 years of existence and unveiling strategic plans to position the Society for greater impact in the next century. The conference will also culminate in the election of new national officers to steer the organization’s affairs. Themed “Islam and Muslims: Responsibilities and Relevance in a Pluralistic World,” the event has drawn 843 delegates, Islamic scholars, and stakeholders from across Nigeria and the diaspora to discuss the Society’s evolving role in education, faith, and national development. Speaking at a press…

Daud Olatunji The University of Ilorin Alumni Association has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing three of its distinguished members into key leadership positions in the country. The appointees include Mrs. Kemi Nana Nandap, whose tenure as Comptroller General of Immigration has been extended until December 2026; Mr. Babs Omotowa, appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), representing the North Central; and Prof. James A. Aribisala, named as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti. In a statement issued by the National President, Prof. AbdulRasaq Kilani, and National…

The World Bank has approved a total loan of $1.13 billion for Nigeria, aimed at funding projects focused on quality education, household and community resilience, and improved nutrition. According to details published on the bank’s website on Wednesday, the approval includes three separate financing requests granted in March. These include an $80 million loan for the ‘Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0’ project, a $552 million loan for the ‘HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All Programme,’ and a $500 million loan for the ‘Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Programme.’ The latest approvals come as Nigeria continues…

Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has been released after 56 days in the hands of kidnappers. Tsiga, who was abducted on February 5, 2025, from his hometown in Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State, regained his freedom on April 2, 2025. Sources confirmed that Tsiga was initially abducted alongside nine other individuals, sparking a wave of concern across the nation. Despite a significant ransom payment by his family, which reports indicate to be in the region of N180 million, Tsiga remained in captivity for weeks, leading to a tense standoff with the…