The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has reportedly commenced investigations into seven prominent Nigerians named in the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers over allegations involving undeclared offshore assets.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, those under investigation include the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and David Mark.
Others are former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah, late former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former Delta State Governor James Ibori, and retired Delta State judicial officer Stella Ogene.
The report quoted sources at the CCB as confirming that case officers had been assigned to the individuals and investigations had commenced.
“All the Nigerian officials named in the Panama and Pandora Papers will be investigated. But seven of them have been assigned to case officers who have already commenced investigations,” a source was quoted as saying.
The investigation is reportedly aimed at determining whether the individuals violated asset declaration requirements by allegedly using offshore companies to hold assets or maintaining foreign bank accounts in breach of applicable laws governing public officers.
The bureau also indicated that its investigations would extend to other Nigerians named in the leaked documents.
However, being named in the Panama Papers or Pandora Papers does not, by itself, establish that an individual committed an offence. Any wrongdoing would need to be established through evidence and the appropriate legal process.
