Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the Acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). The apex court ruled the case lacked merit. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who presided over a seven-member panel, held that the states’ argument against the legality of the EFCC Act was fundamentally flawed. Justice Abba-Aji clarified that the EFCC Act, enacted by the National Assembly, is not a treaty requiring ratification by state houses of…

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Friday nullified the election of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The court upheld the re-election of Tajudeen Baruwa as the union’s legitimate president, affirming the March 11, 2024, judgment of the National Industrial Court. The appellate court’s decision, delivered by Justices Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi, dismissed the appeal filed by MC Oluomo and others, describing it as “devoid of merit.” The court further imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against the appellants in…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned two Chinese siblings, Wang Jian and Wang Richard, alongside a Nigerian, Michael Berneth Agu, over allegations of illegal possession and exportation of mineral ore. The suspects were brought before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, illegal exportation, and unlawful possession of mineral ore. According to the charges filed by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, the defendants were accused of attempting to export mineral ore without authorization and of being in possession of 15 pieces…

The Central Bank of Nigeria says it will heavily penalise banks with empty ATMs and those selling ‘mint’ cash to naira hawkers. The Central Bank of Nigeria says it will heavily penalise banks with empty ATMs and those selling ‘mint’ cash to naira hawkers. Solaja Olayemi, CBN’s acting director for the currency operations department, said this in a memo to DMBs on Friday. Mr Olayemi said that the CBN would engage in “mystery shopping” exercise and periodic “spot checks” on cash distribution and disbursement activities of DMBs to ascertain the source of such Naira notes. He said that the initiatives…

On Friday, the National Judicial Council sacked two heads of court over age falsification. According to the council, this followed an investigation which established that the chief judge of Imo, Justice T. E. Chukwuemeka Chikeka, and the Grand Kadi of Yobe, Kadi Babagana Mahdi, were guilty. The council also suspended a judge of the Rivers State High Court, Justice G. C. Aguma, and Justice A. O. Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court for a year each without pay and placed them on ‘Watch List’ for two years after that. The NJC took the decision at its 107th meeting on…

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has claimed that divine intervention averted a catastrophic freefall of the naira, which he suggested could have exchanged at N10,000 to the dollar. Adeboye made the assertion during the Special Holy Ghost Congress in Abuja, attributing the naira’s relative stability to persistent prayers by himself and his congregation. “The way the naira was declining, if God had not intervened, by now, $1 would be about N10,000. But God stepped in, showing us that we need prayers,” Adeboye said. Currently, the naira trades at approximately N1,730 to…

The Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta has dismissed a suit seeking to disqualify candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from participating in the local government elections scheduled for Saturday. The suit, filed by a former PDP chairman and 30 others, sought to bar the party’s candidates on the grounds that they were allegedly not members of the PDP in the state. However, the court found no merit in the case. During the proceedings, the claimants’ counsel, Ojo Adebayo, SAN, presented arguments challenging the eligibility of the PDP candidates. On the other hand, the PDP’s counsel, Muyiwa Obadawa, countered…

Ogun State, like many other states in Nigeria, has a rapidly growing youth population, and the challenges that come with this demographic shift require innovative and focused leadership. With over 60% of the state’s population as youths, it has become increasingly clear that a dedicated platform is needed to ensure their voices are heard and their needs addressed. This is why the establishment of an Office of the Commissioner for Youth Engagement is both timely and essential. This is a position designed to harness the potential of Ogun’s youth, bridge the gap between them and the government, and…

Olalekan Alex Shoyinka, the Action Democratic Party (ADP) chairmanship candidate for Abeokuta South Local Government, has rejected recent allegations from the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding his candidacy, reiterating his commitment to contesting in the upcoming local government elections. In a strongly-worded statement issued to the public, Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, denounced the APC’s claims as “baseless” and aimed at misleading the electorate. He emphasized that his candidacy remained resolute despite the growing pressure from political opponents who, according to him, are facing imminent defeat in the polls. “My instinctive reaction would have been to ignore this last-ditch…

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has expressed shock and dismay over the recent award granted to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Idi-Aba in Abeokuta, which was named “Best Customer Friendly and Environmentally Clean Hospital” by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate. In a statement released on Friday, the CDHR condemned the award and demanded an immediate withdrawal, along with a probe into the selection process and potential conspirators involved. According to a congratulatory letter dated November 12, 2024, Professor Pate praised the hospital’s Medical Director, Prof. Adewale Musa-Olomu, citing the facility’s…