Pandora Papers: I Broke No Laws – Peter Obi Opens Up

Pandora Papers I Broke No Laws – Peter Obi Opens Up
Mr Peter Obi
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Mr. Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2019 election, has denied breaking any Nigerian laws by indulging in secret enterprises to set up overseas tax havens.

Africa Daily News, New York reports that an online publication, Premium Times, quoting Pandora Papers, had listed Mr. Obi as one of those personalities who clandestinely set up and operated businesses overseas, including in notorious tax and secrecy havens in ways that breached Nigerian laws.

The Pandora Papers are a leak of around 12 million papers that revealed hidden riches and tax evasion by some of the world’s most powerful people.

But reacting to this Thursday, Mr. Obi said it was exhilarating that nowhere in the article was he accused of any form of corruption, whether in the form of diversion of public funds or in any other manner during and after his stewardship as the governor of Anambra State.

He added that the publication did not also allege that he had been engaged in unlawful business ventures at any time whatsoever.

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Obi said his understanding was that the allegation bordered more on tax avoidance and non-declaration of some jointly owned assets.

He then wondered if thorough scrutiny and appreciation of all the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged transactions were made by the writers.

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.

The former governor said he did not in any respect whatsoever violate any law before, during, and after his stewardship as the Governor of Anambra.

He stated that he followed professional opinions and guidance from investment professionals both locally and worldwide in all things connected to his investments and declaration of his personal assets, wherever they may be found.

Obi said he also engaged and acted on solicited advice by reputable legal practitioners on whose opinion he relied.

He urged all well-meaning persons to see through what he called ‘the hopeless sleight and ignore the publication’.

 

AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK

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