APC’s “Snatch, Grab, and Run” Threatens Nigeria’s Democracy – Atiku

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Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has once again voiced his concerns about the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its alleged attempts to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through questionable practices.

Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, conveyed the concerns in a statement released on Monday in Abuja.

Highlighting the essence of democracy, Atiku emphasised that it goes beyond having a representative government and is fundamentally rooted in the diversity of ideas. For a democratic system to thrive, it must embrace opposition and differing perspectives.

Atiku expressed his worry over a concerning trend where the engagement of opposition parties is seemingly curtailed by the ruling party in Nigeria.

He cited instances of alleged electoral rigging and controversial court decisions favouring APC, suggesting that these actions compromise the health of Nigeria’s democracy.

The statement pointed out that controversial court rulings have predominantly affected states controlled by opposition parties, including Nassarawa, Kano, Zamfara, and now Plateau State.

Atiku raised questions about the integrity of the judiciary and the potential compromise of democratic processes.

The former Vice President drew attention to a viral video in which an APC lawmaker hinted at compromising the judicial process for the party’s benefit.

Atiku asserted that the ongoing events in the Plateau governorship election petition validate the concerns raised in the video.

The statement also alluded to the influence of political figures like Bola Tinubu, noting that opposition became an anathema in Lagos State under his sway as a political godfather.

It claimed that opposition members faced intimidation, suspension, and arrest, creating an environment where joining the ruling party became a survival strategy.

Atiku questioned the withdrawal of a N135 billion lawsuit by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) against an opposition senator from Anambra State, less than 24 hours after the senator defected to APC.

The statement suggested that such actions represent crude methods employed to weaken opposition ranks and consolidate power.

The former Vice President expressed concern about the judiciary’s role, alleging questionable judgments and compromises.

He referenced Justice Dattijo Muhammad’s valedictory speech and remarks by legal luminaries like Olumide Akpata and Femi Falana, who have questioned the integrity of recent court decisions.

Source: Vanguard News

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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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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