There are strong indications that some of the top gladiators in the nation’s political tuff and elected officials allegedly indicted in the Pandora Papers may have been given dates by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear before it and defend themselves over allegations levelled against them on their stakes in offshore companies and banks.
A news report by Premium Times indicated some of the political top shots and individuals under probe for alleged tax evasion and other offences, include a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, acting Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko; and a former minister and serving Senator, Stella Oduah; and Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State.
Others include, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State as well as his associates including former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Children of a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), were also said to have engaged in offshore deals.
Already, Governor Obi, mentioned in the report has already been summoned for questioning by the anti-graft agency over his alleged secret assets and financial deals exposed in the Pandora Papers.
Pandora Papers is the result of investigations by a network of journalists globally comprising of leakage of 11.9 million documents from offshore services providers, detailing the secret offshore accounts of 35 world leaders, including current and former presidents, prime ministers, and heads of state as well as celebrities.
It was reliably gathered that the EFCC had asked Obi to report at its Abuja headquarters on October 27 for questioning over allegations that he incorporated offshore holdings, which he did not declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he served as a governor as well as allegedly operating foreign accounts and hiding his wealth in tax havens to evade taxes.
Investigations indicated that others listed on the Pandora Papers had similar allegations to clarify with the anti-graft agency, although their schedules of appearance are yet to be made public by the commission.
