Pandora Papers: Peter Obi Says, I did Not Violate Any Law 

The former governor stated that he did not breach any laws before, during, or after his tenure as Governor of Anambra.

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2019 election, has responded to a media claim that he violated Nigerian laws by engaging in hidden enterprises set up in tax havens, saying that he committed no law.

Premium Times, citing Pandora Papers, identified Mr. Obi as one among those individuals who secretly established and managed firms overseas, notably in infamous tax and secrecy havens, in ways that violated Nigerian regulations.

The Pandora Papers were a leak of about 12 million papers that showed hidden riches and tax evasion by some of the world’s wealthiest and most influential people. But, in response to the piece published on Thursday, Mr. Obi said it was refreshing that he was not accused of any kind of corruption, whether via the diversion of public monies or in any other way, during or after his tenure as governor of Anambra State.

He went on to say that the magazine did not imply that he had ever been involved in illegal business operations.

Obi stated that his understanding of the accusation was that it involved tax evasion and the non-declaration of certain jointly owned assets.

He then wondered if the writers had given careful consideration to all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged transactions.

“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 stated that he did not breach any laws before, during, or after his tenure as Governor of Anambra.

He stated that he followed the professional opinions and recommendations of investment professionals both locally and globally in all areas pertaining to his investments and disclosure of his assets, wherever they may be situated.

Obi stated that he also sought and followed the counsel of recognized legal practitioners, on whose advise he trusted.

He advised everyone with good intentions to see through what he called “the hopeless sleight and ignore the publication.”