Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra, says he has not
broken any law over his refusal to declare, while in office, assets he co-owned
as international investments.
Leaked files, which were retrieved from 14 offshore service
firms around the world and revealed in a Pandora Papers project led by the
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), and which Premium
Times is a part of, had shown how the former governor failed to declare assets
kept in tax havens.
In 2010, more than three years after Obi became governor, he
reportedly set up his first discreet company in the British Virgin Islands, and
named the company Gabriella Investments Limited — after his daughter.
The former governor reportedly first approached Acces
International, a secrecy enabler in Monaco, France, to help him incorporate an
offshore entity.
He was also said to have been a director of Next International
(UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming the governor of Anambra state.
Meanwhile, according to the law, section 6 of the Code of
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act stipulates that public office holders cannot
engage in or direct a private business, except if it is farming.
But Obi was said to have resigned from the company on May
16, 2008, which was 14 months after he assumed office as Anambra governor.
Reacting, Obi said the report doesn’t reflect international
investment practices.
“On the allegation that I violated the Nigerian Code of
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, as well as sections of the 5th Schedule to the
constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), by not
declaring any alleged assets in companies registered outside the Nigerian
Federation, I think that the authors displayed ignorance on matters of trust
and international investment practices,” he said.
Obi added that in all matters relating to his investments
and declaration of his personal assets, wherever they may be found, he acted in
line with professional opinions and the advice of local and international
investment experts.
He added that he also engaged and acted on solicited advice
by reputable legal practitioners, on whose opinions he relied.
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