World

Acquittal: Trump, Democrats React

Published

5 years ago

February 6, 2020

Eric

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, was on Wednesday acquitted of all charges in his impeachment trial.

In the first charge “abusing power of office” the Senate, mainly controlled by the Republican party, voted 52-48 while in the second charge “obstruction of congress” the Senate voted 53-47. To vote the president out, two-thirds of the majority vote is needed.

Mr Trump was charged by the Democrats in December with pressuring the Ukrainian government to further investigate former vice president Joe Biden, a move that is said would enhance his chances of winning the 2020 elections.

If he had been convicted, he would have had to turn over his office to Vice President Mike Pence.

Throughout the impeachment trial, Mr Trump has denied doing anything wrong.

In his reelection campaign, he said in a statement, “President Trump has been totally vindicated and it’s now time to go back to the business of the American people.

“The do-nothing Democrats know they can’t beat him, so they had to impeach him,” he added.

The statement further read that “this impeachment hoax will go down as the worst miscalculation in American political history,”

Mr Trump also tweeted, “I will be making a public statement tomorrow at 12:00pm from the @WhiteHouse to discuss our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!”

Trump’s impeachment vote

Only one Republican, Mitt Romney, indicted the president on the charge of abuse of power.

Some Republican senators, although criticising Mr Trumps behaviour, concluded that impeaching him was too harsh a judgement.

What did Donald Trump do wrong?

In December 2019, the U.S. president was accused of “attempting to withhold military aid to Ukraine and pressure its government to investigate former vice president Joe Biden.”

He was also accused of obstructing Congress for “refusing to participate in the impeachment inquiry.”

Democrats reaction

The Democrats according to BBC “expressed concern that acquittal would further embolden a president” whom they depicted as a demagogue.

Meanwhile, a displeased Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, said that the president is “an ongoing threat to American democracy” and his acquittal showed that both the Senate and Republicans “normalised lawlessness.”

World

Simon Ekpa Lands in Finnish Prison Over Terrorist Propaganda Charges

Published

3 days ago

November 21, 2024

Eric

Self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, has been arrested by law enforcement in Finland.

The BBC reports that Ekpa was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.

Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also arrested four other men over alleged terrorist offences.

A citizen of Finland and Nigeria, Ekpa has described himself as leader of the separatist IPOB group since Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration.

Finnish police say Ekpa’s activities and social media rhetoric may have fanned the flames of violence in the south-east of Nigeria.

“He carries out these activities from his social media channels, for example,” said Otto Hiltunen, detective chief inspector of the NBI.

In February 2023, Ekpa was arrested by police at his residence in Lahti but was released after hours of questioning.

Using his social media channels, Ekpa had directed Igbos not to participate in Nigeria’s 2023 general election.

In September 2021, the Biafra agitator and secessionist denounced Nigeria and vowed to return the medal he won for the country at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships.

Africa

Balthasar Sex Scandal: Equatorial Guinea Govt Files Formal Charges

Published

2 weeks ago

November 13, 2024

Eric

The Government of Equatorial Guinea has filed a lawsuit against Baltasar Ebang Engonga, former Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), over allegations of misconduct involving a sex scandal.

In an official statement, the government gave reasons why Engonga is being prosecuted, describing his actions as “violations of the ethical and moral values of noble Equatorial Guinean society.”

The lawsuit was announced by Jerónimo Osa Osa, Minister of Information, Press, and Culture, who confirmed that the Attorney General’s Office would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.

According to local news platform Ahora EG, “This decision comes after several videos went viral in which Ebang Engonga is seen having sexual relations with multiple women, some of whom are married.”

The leaked videos, which have sparked outrage, prompted the government to take a stand on what it deems a violation of public morality and family values.

During an address on Friday, the government, through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, tasked with overseeing the case, intends to pursue administrative, civil, and criminal charges against Engonga and any accomplices, reiterated its condemnation of Engonga’s conduct.

The government emphasised the far-reaching impact of the scandal on social and family cohesion, stating, “In light of these serious events, which severely undermine family and social cohesion, and considering the negative impact that this situation has on the good image of our country, tarnishing its reputation, the government, through the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has commenced a thorough investigation to establish responsibilities at the administrative, civil, and criminal levels, given the possibility of a public health impact.”

Meanwhile, the investigation aims to address multiple issues, including the line between personal and public conduct, potential privacy violations, and damages to individuals’ honor and reputation.

The government affirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights of those affected by the scandal, including the State itself.

Baltasar Engonga has been facing severe backlash after investigators discovered over 400 explicit videos involving him and the wives of prominent national figures.

The scandal surfaced amid a fraud probe into Engonga’s stewardship, leading ANIF officials to search his home and office.

During this search, investigators reportedly uncovered CDs containing the explicit recordings, which have since leaked online, sparking a national outcry and widespread media coverage.