Protesters in Edo North Oppose Impeachment of Deputy Governor

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Residents and indigenes of Edo North Senatorial District have expressed their disapproval of the planned impeachment of the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, by the Edo State House of Assembly. Shaibu’s rift with Governor Godwin Obaseki began in 2023 over his intention to contest for the governorship of Edo State.

The disagreement escalated during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in February when Shaibu organized a parallel poll in his residence and declared himself the winner, while Asue Ighodalo was declared the winner of the main PDP primary election in Edo State.

Last week, the Edo State House of Assembly issued Shaibu an impeachment notice, leading to widespread protests in Edo North Senatorial District. The protesters, comprising women, men, and youths under the Edo North PDP Rescue Movement (ENREM), voiced their opposition to the impeachment move.

Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No to impeachment of Edo deputy governor” and “Give peace a chance,” the protesters urged Governor Obaseki to intervene and prevent the impeachment of Shaibu. They described the impeachment as a political vendetta and called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Festus Owu, the leader of the protesters, urged the Edo lawmakers to focus on providing good legislation for residents instead of pursuing an impeachment that would not benefit the citizens. The protesters marched through major streets in the communities, emphasizing their desire for peace and stability in the state.

The protesters called on Governor Obaseki to use his influence to stop any further impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor, highlighting the need for unity and cooperation among political leaders in Edo State.

Politics Nigeria

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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