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Trump Clashes With Judge At New York Civil Fraud Trial

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A combative Donald Trump clashed repeatedly with the judge on Monday as he took the stand in the New York civil fraud case threatening to cripple his real estate empire.

One year out from an election he hopes will return him to the White House, Trump became the first former US president to testify as a defendant in a court case in more than a century.

During his testimony, the 77-year-old Trump accused Judge Arthur Engoron of issuing “fraudulent” rulings, and denounced New York state attorney general Letitia James, who brought the case against him, as a “political hack.”

“He called me a fraud and he did not know anything about me,” Trump said of the judge, who was sitting right next to him, before calling the trial a “political witch hunt.”

“This is not a political rally,” the judge admonished Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. “Please, just answer the questions, no speeches.”

At one point, a visibly angry Engoron told Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, to “control your client.”

Dressed in a dark blue suit and tie with an American flag on his lapel, Trump denounced what he called a “very unfair” and “crazy trial” brought by Democrats “coming after me from 15 different sides.”

Trump, his eldest sons, Don Jr and Eric, and other Trump Organization executives are accused of exaggerating the value of their real estate assets by billions of dollars to obtain more favorable bank loans and insurance terms.

Testifying under oath, Trump dismissed allegations that the company’s financial statements were fraudulent, describing them as “very conservative.”

“They were not really documents that the banks paid much attention to,” he said, and the value of the “Trump brand” was not taken into account in the valuations of his assets.

“I became president because of my brand,” Trump said under questioning from Kevin Wallace, a lawyer for the New York attorney general’s office.

– ‘Numbers, my friends, don’t lie’ –
James, the attorney general, told reporters before Trump’s testimony that the former president had “consistently misrepresented and inflated the value of his assets.”

“Before he takes the stand, I am certain that he will engage in name-calling and taunts and race-baiting and call this a witch hunt,” James said. “But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters are the facts and the numbers.

“And numbers, my friends, don’t lie.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked James, who is Black, as “racist,” and has also gone after Engoron, calling the judge “unhinged” and a “Trump-hating radical left, Democrat operative.”

Engoron has responded by slapping Trump with $15,000 in fines for violating a partial gag order imposed after he bashed the judge’s clerk on social media.

Trump’s testimony follows that of his sons Don Jr. and Eric, who took the stand last week and blamed accountants for any inaccuracies in the financial statements of the company.

According to The Washington Post, the last former president to testify publicly as a defendant was Theodore Roosevelt, who took the stand during a 1915 libel trial.

Trump has already given testimony twice in connection with this case, both times in closed-door depositions.

– First of several trials –
Trump and his sons do not risk going to jail, but face up to $250 million in penalties and potential removal from the management of the family company.

Even before opening arguments, Engoron ruled that James’s office had already shown “conclusive evidence” that Trump had overstated his net worth on financial documents by between $812 million and $2.2 billion between 2014 and 2021.

As a result, the judge ordered the liquidation of the companies managing the assets in question, such as the Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street skyscrapers in Manhattan.

That order is on hold pending appeal, but its potentially sweeping consequences highlight the high stakes for the former president.

The civil fraud trial is one of several legal battles Trump faces as he seeks to recapture the presidency.

In March, Trump — who was impeached twice while in office — faces a trial on charges that he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden.

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Late COAS, Lagbaja, To Be Buried Friday

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Barring any unforeseen circumstance, the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, would be buried in Abuja on Friday.

His immediate elder brother, Moshood Lagbaja, disclosed this in Osogbo, Osun State during a condolence visit by St Charles Grammar School Osogbo Old Boys Association (SCOBA).

He said the military could not release his remains to the family, but assured them he would be given a befitting burial in Abuja on Friday.

The delegation presented a condolence letter signed by Global President of the association, Tade Adekunle and and General Secretary, Leye Odetoyinbo, to the family.

Speaking on behalf of SCOBA during the condolence visit, the leader of the delegation, who is also the 1st Vice President, Engineer Adesina Salami, described late Lagbaja as an exceptional individual, a proud Charlean, and a distinguished military leader who served the nation with unwavering dedication.

Salami said, “We mourn the loss of an exceptional individual, a proud Charlean, and a distinguished military leader who served our nation with unwavering dedication. Lt. Gen. Lagbaja’s remarkable life, selfless service, and enduring legacy inspire us.

“He made an inspiring and unforgettable impact on the Charlean Family Worldwide during his glorious lifetime.

“May the comforting presence of Almighty God surround you during this difficult time. May His peace, love, and strength sustain you as you navigate the darkness of grief.

“We pray that the cherished memories of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja’s love, wisdom, and accomplishments bring solace to your hearts and may his exemplary life continue to inspire generations to come.”

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Relief for Nigerians as petrol landing drops to N976/litre

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Nigerians may see a much-needed reduction in petrol prices as the landing cost of the product has reportedly dropped to N971 per litre, raising hopes of potential relief for consumers facing high petrol prices.

Using an exchange rate of N1,665.84/$, data sourced from the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) showed the 30-day average landing cost for petrol into a tank cost stood at N976.73/litre.

The decrease in the landing price is expected to lead to a corresponding reduction in pump prices at filling stations across the country.

However, the extent of the price reduction will depend on various factors, including the cost of transportation, storage, and distribution.

MEMAN data also revealed that the landing cost of Automative Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel stood at N1,082/litre, while that of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK), known as aviation fuel stood at N1,135/litre.

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Lakurawa: Intelligence Has Failed – Shekarau On New Terrorist Group

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Former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has blamed lack of proper intelligence gathering for the emergence of new terrorist group, Lakurawa.

Shekarau said the federal and state governments can address the issue of new terrorist groups emerging through proper intelligence gathering and community policing.

About six people have reportedly lost their lives, with scores injured after angry youths attacked Fulani residents in Mera community, Augie Local Government Area, Kebbi State.

SaharaReporters reports that the youths reportedly carried out the attack on Sunday in response to allegations linking some Fulani individuals to recent bandit raids in the area.

According to the report, the violence was allegedly triggered after a survivor of Friday’s bandit attack informed the community youths that he recognised some Fulani faces among the attackers, known locally as “Lakurawa.”

Featuring on Channels TV’s programme, Sunrise Daily, Shekarau said: “This is giving us an impression that our intelligence gathering is still below average because if the intelligence have been up and doing from all the agencies, then this thing should have been discovered earlier than now. The new insurgents have already started attacking communities by giving them all kinds of nightmares and collecting levies.

“I think we have had enough of insurgents we are battling with, so for them to have come in from neighbour countries like Niger Republic into the borders of Sokoto and Kebbi, I think we need to do a lot of restructuring of the security architecture.

“When I was a governor, I always meet with the security committee and I directed all the local government to meet on the last Thursday of every month. The state security committee, the local government security will meet and report back whatever they have.

“If government will initiate a proper community intelligence gathering there will be peace.We did in Kano and the people trust this arrangement far more, the traditional institution was greatly involved and we empowered them.

“One of the major things to do is to improve the nature of intelligence gathering. The number of police, Army, and military is not enough for them to be all over the place. Through intelligence gathering you will be able to identify informants who are working with insurgents.

“If we want to address this issue, the government (Federal and State) must work together to improve intelligence gathering through community watch and policing. Up till now, we have not been able to produce some of these things.”

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