There were strong indications yesterday that the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) may probe Nigerians associated with secret
offshore companies.
Apart from Senate President Bukola Saraki, others
mentioned in the secret leak that has been generating worldwide ripples
are: Former Senate President David Mark, Saraki’s wife, Toyin, former
Delta State Governor James Ibori, Mr. Laolu Saraki, Mr. Obi Asika and
Mr. Olufela Ibidapo.
Yesterday, former Defence Minister Gen. Yakubu Danjuma’s name was linked with some firms.
According to a top EFCC source, the EFCC has already obtained a copy of the Panama Papers, which its operatives are studying.
The
source said: “We are studying all the documents and definitely we will
investigate the allegations against all the Nigerians implicated in the
Panama Papers.
“These allegations may lead to further clues on whether or not public funds were used in acquiring some of these secret assets.
The
Panamanian law firm, reputed as one of the most secretive companies in
the world, had helped clients to register offshore entities, some of
which are then used to launder money, evade tax and dodge sanctions.
Gen.
Danjuma, the wealthy philanthropist and one-time Defence minister,
according to the Mossac Fonseca files, floated Eastcoast Investments,
which he incorporated in Nassau, Bahamas, on March 25, 1997.
At inception, Gen. Danjuma and a certain Colin Marcel Dixon were directors of the company.
According
to Premium Times, Gen. Danjuma formed the company to enable him do
business with Scancem International of Norway when the latter decided to
expand its business frontiers to Nigeria.
But the company became
embroiled in a bribery scandal, with Scancem, according to court papers,
later buying out Eastcoast Investment from the project on December 1,
2003.
Gen. Danjuma reportedly resigned as director of the company.
He is also reported to have used other offshore entities.
The
database, Opencorporates, indicate that the ex-minister. served as
director and vice-president of Cross Group Holdings International, which
was registered in Panama on October 15, 1976.
Gen. Danjuma was also director of Zara Logistics, a company registered in Cyprus on September 2, 1993.
He could not be reached for comment yesterday. Sources close to him said he is out of the country.
Also,
Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss attorney hired by the administration of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo to track missing Abacha loot in Swiss banks
is himself operating over 178 companies in offshore tax havens.
Mr.
Monfrini was hired in 2000 by the government to help establish the
existence of and repatriate over $4 billion allegedly looted by the
former military dictator.
The documents showed that Mr. Monfrini, an
influential legal practitioner in Switzerland, is director of 178
companies scattered around Panama and the British Virgin Islands.
Although
the documents did not directly implicate Mr. Monfrini as having
committed any crime, still, the revelation points to the hypocrisy of a
man widely revered for his remarkable ability to dismantle tax evaders
and looters across jurisdictions.
..thenation
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