A number of high-profile Nigerians including ex-Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi have on Monday been named in the biggest leak of secret offshore financial data of the world's rich and powerful people by Pandora Papers, revealing hidden deals and assets. The Pandora papers investigation was carried out by about 600 journalists from media firms including The Guardian, BBC, Premium Times, and The Washington Post after the 11.9 million documents from 14 financial companies across the world were leaked.
The first series of the leak disclosed how wealthy people created offshore structures and trusts in Panama, Dubai, Monaco, the Cayman Islands, and Switzerland.
The document exposed the secret offshore dealings of 35 world leaders including, former presidents, prime ministers, and heads of state as well as over 300 public officials such as ministers, judges, military generals, and mayors of over 90 countries.
According to Premium Times, influential Nigerians including a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), current and former State Governors, lawmakers, business moguls, a popular pastor among others were named in the document.
The newspaper said Obi set up assets including a company named 'Gabriella Investments Limited' in the British Virgin Island he did not declare to the Nigerian Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
It added that the ex-governor contracted a secrecy enabler, Acces International in Monaco, France to aid in incorporating an offshore company with hired directors for the company to hide the real owners.
However, Obi has said he doesn't declare assets and businesses jointly owned.
“I don’t declare what is owned with others. If my family owns something I won’t declare it. I didn’t declare anything I jointly owed with anyone.”