Audit Shows N521 Billion, $21 Billion Unaccounted For Under Buhari: House of Reps | GOVERNMEND

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If urgent steps are not taken to address those hydra-headed issues, they may lead to a total collapse of the economy.”

he House of Representatives has begun an investigation into missing sums of N526 billion and $21 billion in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

In a motion by Abdullahi Abdulkadir, it was revealed that the funds went missing due to leakages, mostly between 2015 and 2017.

The motion was titled ‘Need to Investigate the Report of the Auditor General for the Federation on the Accounting and Financial Infractions of Government and International Organisations.’

Mr Abdulkadir, the vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Account, pointed out that the auditor general’s office raised queries “particularly covering 2015 to 2017 as regards losses of income due to leakages, financial misapplication, misappropriation, under-reporting, and falsification and which was corroborated by the forensic audit report by KPMG that indicted some federal government agencies for losses of up to N526 billion and $21 billion.”

The lawmaker alleged that individuals in public and private sectors looted the funds through “deceitful and irregular accounting practices.”

He noted, “The losses were allegedly occasioned by an interplay of activities of persons both in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, including multinational companies and the continued exploitation of Nigeria’s economy through the deployment of deceitful and irregular accounting practices are resulting in huge capital flight, deficit balances, and a weakened economy.”

Mr Adulkadir, while citing the legislature’s power to investigate such matters, pointed out that there might be a collapse in the economy if the government did not take steps to address the issue.

He said, “Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) confer on the legislature power to investigate with the aim of exposing corruption, inefficiency, and blocking waste in the administration of public funds.

he House of Representatives has begun an investigation into missing sums of N526 billion and $21 billion in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

In a motion by Abdullahi Abdulkadir, it was revealed that the funds went missing due to leakages, mostly between 2015 and 2017.

The motion was titled ‘Need to Investigate the Report of the Auditor General for the Federation on the Accounting and Financial Infractions of Government and International Organisations.’

Mr Abdulkadir, the vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Account, pointed out that the auditor general’s office raised queries “particularly covering 2015 to 2017 as regards losses of income due to leakages, financial misapplication, misappropriation, under-reporting, and falsification and which was corroborated by the forensic audit report by KPMG that indicted some federal government agencies for losses of up to N526 billion and $21 billion.”

The lawmaker alleged that individuals in public and private sectors looted the funds through “deceitful and irregular accounting practices.”

He noted, “The losses were allegedly occasioned by an interplay of activities of persons both in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy, including multinational companies and the continued exploitation of Nigeria’s economy through the deployment of deceitful and irregular accounting practices are resulting in huge capital flight, deficit balances, and a weakened economy.”

Mr Adulkadir, while citing the legislature’s power to investigate such matters, pointed out that there might be a collapse in the economy if the government did not take steps to address the issue.

He said, “Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) confer on the legislature power to investigate with the aim of exposing corruption, inefficiency, and blocking waste in the administration of public funds.

Source: Peoples Gazette

BF Borgers, an accounting firm owned by former US President Donald Trump, has been accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of engaging in widespread fraud and operating a “sham audit mill.” The SEC alleges that BF Borgers committed “deliberate and systemic failures,” including the fabrication of audit papers and false assurances to clients regarding compliance with accounting standards.

This fraudulent activity, described as “massive,” occurred between January 2021 and June 2023, impacting over 1,500 SEC filings and more than 500 public companies. As a consequence, the SEC has permanently barred BF Borgers from practicing as accountants before the agency and imposed a severe penalty, including a collective fine of $14 million against the firm and its owner, Benjamin Borgers.

In a statement, Gurbir Grewal, director of the SEC’s enforcement division, declared that Borgers and his “sham audit mill” have been permanently shut down. The SEC has notified public companies that engaged BF Borgers to seek new accounting firms.

Trump Media & Technology Group, chaired and majority-owned by Donald Trump, was among BF Borgers’ clients. While Trump Media may be the most high-profile client, BF Borgers served around 350 clients subject to SEC rules during the mentioned period. However, the SEC review only examined BF Borgers’ work for public companies, excluding its services to Trump Media when it was private.

Trump Media, despite its significant valuation on Wall Street exceeding $9 billion, generates limited revenue. Its social media platform, Truth Social, faces challenges, with a notable decline in average daily active US users on iOS and Android in April. Despite this, Donald Trump remains a prominent user on Truth Social.

In response to the SEC’s actions, a spokesperson for Trump Media expressed readiness to collaborate with new auditing partners in compliance with the SEC’s order. BF Borgers did not provide a comment on the allegations.

In summary, BF Borgers, owned by Donald Trump, faces severe consequences following accusations of fraud by the SEC. The firm’s practices, characterized as a “sham audit mill,” have led to permanent suspension and hefty fines. Trump Media, among BF Borgers’ clients, is navigating challenges despite its substantial valuation, particularly with its Truth Social platform experiencing a decline in user engagement.

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