No one is perhaps surprised that Nigeria is well represented in the odious Panama Papers, the latest international scandal in which suspected fraudsters of all nations float shell companies, to corner public funds (politicians and public office holders), escape legitimate taxation (business barons) or launder drug money (international drug barons).
It is a well and truly numbing United Nations of smart alecks, driven by uncommon greed to undermine and under-develop their countries!
Captured in the humongous data, all of 2.6 tetrabytes, containing 11.5 million confidential documents, which one John Doe (not real name) leaked, were heads of state and governments of no less than five countries: Argentina, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
This ensemble also include government officials; and close relatives and associates of top dogs in more than 40 other countries, including Russia and Nigeria. Host of choice for most of the registered shell companies was the British Virgin Islands (which seems to have lost its virginity and innocence to sleaze!); while most of the oft-cited banks, law firms and middlemen, were domiciled in Hong Kong.
Supremely orchestrating the sleazy music was Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm, which somewhat had developed globally recognised rogue expertise in such dodgy business. A concert of journalists, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), probed and blew the lid on the scam.
ICIJ comprised 400 journalists, at 107 media organisations, in 16 countries, led by German newspaper, Suddutsche Zeitung. They all collaborated on the investigations. Premium Times, a Nigerian online newspaper, says it is the only Nigerian newspaper in this noble assemblage.
The scandal has already started claiming scalps. In Iceland, Prime Minister Sigmumdur Gunnlaugsson, resigned his office, even though technically he broke no laws. His wife, Ann Sigurlaug Palsdottir, not him, was involved; and under Iceland’s parliamentary laws, he was not obliged to declare her interests. But so fierce was public opinion, in a normally laid-back jurisdiction, that the Prime Minister hurriedly exited.
In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron still sweats to evade the drop. Again technically, he broke no laws. The deal was his inheritance from his father; and when he cashed out, he explained, he declared it and paid due taxes. But such is the public row that the jury is still out on whether or not he would survive the storm. Also, Spanish industry minister Jose Manuel Soria has joined the list of those who resigned over the Panama Papers scandal.
Of course, in Nigeria, the worst of global aberrations are bound to add the amoral Nigerian local flavour. Two of those named in the scandals are already proving this axiom painfully true.
Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senate President, was mentioned. Initially, he claimed he did no wrong; and that the said assets belonged to his wife, Toyin, who came from a propertied Lagos family. But the wife’s lawyers countermanded that claim, saying the assets belonged to no family, but solely Mrs. Saraki’s.
Afterwards, Premium Times revealed what looked like damning evidence of Saraki buying one of the shell companies, off his wife for £3 million, way back during his gubernatorial years. Part of the papers Premium Times provided bore what looked like Mrs Saraki’s personal handwriting and signature. Still, Saraki, embroiled in his Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) trial, is resorting to bluff and bluster. Worse: he is even attempting institutional subversion of our laws to selfish ends.
His supporters are pushing a hurried amendment to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Law, as well as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015. Both are aimed, like bandits billeted in the highest lawmaking chamber in the land, with a self-given mandate to subvert the law, at skewing both laws so that Saraki can wriggle out of his self-imposed troubles. Fond hope — but exceedingly reckless, provocative and condemnable.
The second drama of the absurd involves David Mark, another former Senate President. After the news hit the wire, he claimed he had gone through the documents but didn’t find his name there! But Premium Times riposted: if the documents are still under wraps — and it was sure they were, since the newspaper was part of ICIJ — which document did Mark scour to clear himself of any alleged wrongdoing? Again, it would appear another bluff and bluster gone awry!
Former defence minister Theophilus Danjuma has also been named in this sordid drama. He is the only Nigerian who has not thought it fit to respond. He owes it to Nigerians. The other, Onanefe Ibori, is in jail and may not be afforded platforms to explain himself. If the others who responded have resorted to subterfuge, at least they responded. Danjuma’s silence is unacceptable. He has been a prominent fixture in generations of this country’s leadership.
At the end of the day, every name on the list is deemed innocent until proven guilty by detailed investigation and dutiful prosecution. That is why every Nigerian mentioned in the scandal must speak to the allegations; and fairly clear their names.
But clearing your name is one thing. Stalling and lying to bury the truth is another. The first is fair and noble business. The other is provocative play on the polity’s intelligence. So, the earlier Saraki and Mark started fairly defending themselves, the better for them — and everyone. But that counsel also goes to other Nigerians mentioned, though the duo of Saraki and Mark are singled out because of strong suspicions of possible abuse of office, as sitting senators and public office holders.
But however the mentioned decide to play it, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should swiftly move in and investigate the allegations. After that, it should bring the indicted to diligent prosecution and justice.
The nation expects no less of an administration whose prime and legacy policy is zero tolerance for corruption.
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