Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Toyyibat Qasim A Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State, has ordered a man, Tajuddeen Murtala, to vacate his matrimonial home to allow his ex-wife, Hidayat Yusuf, and their six children to continue living there. The court also directed Murtala to continue taking full responsibility for the welfare and upkeep of the children. The presiding judge, Malam Mu’awiya Shehu, gave the orders on Tuesday while hearing a custody and maintenance application filed by Yusuf against her former husband. Yusuf had approached the court, seeking custody of their six children and an order compelling Murtala to provide for their feeding,…

Toyyibat Qasim The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, has established youth leadership and cultural ambassador clubs to promote peace, preserve Yoruba heritage and equip young people with leadership skills. The monarch also announced the adoption of traditional mediation mechanisms, alongside modern conflict-resolution approaches, to address disputes within the community and prevent disagreements from escalating into prolonged police investigations and court proceedings. Matemilola made this known on Tuesday during the Olowu Education Pillar: Youth Leadership Summit and the official inauguration of the Olowu Youth Leadership Ambassador Club and Cultural Ambassador Club in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The summit, themed,…

Firdaus Obiremi Former National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Akeem Ambali, has warned that the growing division between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, coupled with the continued weakness of local governments, is threatening workers’ welfare and grassroots development in Nigeria. Ambali, a former treasurer of the NLC and former Ogun State chairman of the Congress, said the disagreement between the two labour centres over the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance could undermine organised labour’s collective bargaining power at a time workers were battling rising inflation, transportation costs and declining purchasing…

Daud Olatunji The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has suspended the Electoral Officer of Akure North Local Government Area, Mrs Mobolade Akole, over her alleged absence from duty during an unscheduled monitoring visit to the commission’s office. Agboke also appointed an administrative officer, Mr Bisi Farunkanmi, as the acting Electoral Officer to prevent a leadership vacuum and ensure uninterrupted administrative operations in the local government. The development followed an unscheduled inspection of INEC offices in Akure North and Akure South by the REC as the commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 general…

Toyyibat Qasim Amnesty International has raised the alarm over the continued captivity of 37 Christian worshippers abducted by gunmen during Easter Sunday church services in Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State, demanding urgent government action to secure their release. The victims, who were kidnapped on April 5, 2026, during coordinated attacks on churches in Ariko community, Kachia Local Government Area, have spent 212 days in the custody of their abductors, according to the human rights organisation. Amnesty International described their prolonged detention as a disturbing indication of the Nigerian authorities’ failure to protect vulnerable communities from persistent attacks, killings and mass abductions.…

Daud Olatunji A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced two men to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of three persons, including an in-law of Governor Douye Diri. The convicts, identified as Gideon Atama, 32, and Clever OVO, 33, were found guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder over the 2022 killings. The victims included Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, an in-law of Governor Diri; Francis Amabelimo, the Paramount Ruler of Kolibo community; and Samuel Oburo, Chairman of the Community Development Committee of Kalaba community, all in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Delivering judgment…

…Underground Tanks, Suspected Diesel, Refining Waste Discovered In Ogere …Operators Allegedly Use Heating Chambers, Filters To Produce Automotive Gas Oil …Commission Investigates Foreign Nationals After Facility Was Found Deserted Daud Olatunji The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has uncovered an illegal oil refinery allegedly operated by Chinese nationals in Ogere, Ogun State, with underground storage tanks containing substances suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel. The discovery followed an intelligence-driven operation conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, by operatives of the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, as part of an investigation into the activities of illegal sludge…

Daud Olatunji The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for treating constructive suggestions and criticisms as attacks, accusing the Federal Government of failing to communicate its policies effectively and appoint competent spokespersons. Sanusi warned that the government’s poor communication strategy was undermining public understanding of its economic reforms, arguing that rather than engage with legitimate concerns, the administration often interprets differing opinions as attempts to discredit it. The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank conference convened by former Director-General…

Daud Olatunji Two visually impaired persons have been abducted by suspected kidnappers in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, with their abductors reportedly demanding a ransom of N50m for their release. The victims, identified as a man and a woman, were reportedly kidnapped at about 8pm on Monday while returning to Jos from Benue State, where they had been selected to participate in a training programme. The incident was confirmed on Tuesday by the Chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Shindol Aaron, who expressed concern over the fate of the…

…Adebutu promises to revive Ogun through seven-point ITURA DE agenda Daud Olatunji Indigenes of Ogun State have pledged to mobilise against what they described as external control of the state’s political leadership, declaring support for the ‘Ogun for Ogun’ movement ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The residents made the pledge during ward-to-ward consultations embarked upon by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oladipupo Adebutu, and his running mate, Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, across the 20 local government areas of the state. The grassroots engagements, which have attracted traditional stakeholders, market women, farmers, youths and political groups, provided opportunities for…