Skip to main content

CSNAC Invokes FOI, Requests Report On Saraki, Mark, Others From CCB

The FOI request, signed by the coalition’s chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the Bureau should update it with developments in the PanamaPapers scandal investigations of Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Senate president, David Mark; two former Group Managing Director NNPC, Funso Kupolokun and Mr Abubakar Yar’Adua; and Senator Andy Uba.

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), which is a coalition of over 150 anti-corruption organizations, has sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), asking the Bureau for a comprehensive information on status of its promised investigation on some present and past public officials exposed in the PanamaPapers scandal.

The FOI request, signed by the coalition’s chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the Bureau should update it with developments in the PanamaPapers scandal investigations of Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Senate president, David Mark; two former Group Managing Director NNPC, Funso Kupolokun and Mr Abubakar Yar’Adua; and Senator Andy Uba.

The request read in part, “In line with the revelations of the present and past Nigerian officials exposed in the PanamaPapers scandal of illegally operating secret companies in tax haven, you, the Chairman of Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, confirmed the Presidency's directive, forwarding names of certain persons mentioned in the PanamaPapers leak to your agency for necessary investigation.

“PremiumTimes had revealed Senate President, Bukola Saraki, having  four assets listed in the secret offshore accounts carrying his name, but the embattled senate president had allegedly failed to disclose them in his assets declaration forms, in violation of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct law. One of the companies in his wife's name, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, in Seychelles Island is Sandon Development Limited, a vehicle used in acquiring a property on 8 Whittaker Street, Belgravia, London, in 2012.

“Another shareholder listed for that company is Babatunde Morakinyo, a long-term personal aide and friend of Mr. Saraki. PremiumTimes confirmed that the assets actually belong to Mr. Saraki, and not his wife, as  Mrs. Saraki and Mr. Morakinyo were mere fronts and nominee directors holding assets in trust for the Senate president.

“Similarly, it was disclosed how former Senate president, David Mark, has links with eight offshore companies in British Virgin Island as shown by the leaked database of Mossack Fonseca. The database showed Mr. Mark as one of Nigeria’s most extensive users of offshore shell companies, while serving as a public official. These companies includes Sikera Overseas S.A, Colsan Enterprises Limited, Goldwin Transworld Limited, Hartland Estates Limited, Marlin Holdings Limited, Medley Holdings Limited, Quetta Properties Limited, and Centenary Holdings Limited.”

The Panama Papers also revealed Mark repeatedly marked as a politically exposed person, and at a point the former senate president had to send documents, across to Mossack Fonseca to prove that he was clean.

“Also, in the same view, the former Group Managing Director NNPC, Funso Kupolokun incorporated secret company in tax haven to partly own Ghana’s top hotel. Details obtained by Premium Times from the leaked Mossac Fonseca’s database allegedly showed Mr. Kupolokun as director of Gold Coast Resorts from August 11, 2008 and personally held 17.23 per cent shares in the company.

Correspondence between Mossac Fonseca and a London-based law firm representing Mr. Kupolokun, Kennedys Law LLP, revealed that the former aide to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, authorized the transfer of his shares in Gold Coast to Blue Chapel, a company registered in Mauritius (another tax haven), in January 2013. It was revealed that at a point, Mossac Fonseca raised concern about Mr. Kupolokun, after its compliance unit identified press reports accusing the former NNPC chief of corruption but in his response, on September 7, 2014, Mr. Kupolokun wrote, “Thanks so much, I now know what is being referred to.”

“Interestingly, it was also disclosed how the former Group Managing Director NNPC, Mr Abubakar Yar’Adua operated secret account to buy posh property while in office. Additional documents scooped from the Mossack Fonseca files exposed how Mr. Yar’Adua utilized his Hydrocarbon Assets Investments Limited to secure a loan from Dexia Private Bank Limited in Jersey which he allegedly used to purchase a property worth £890,000 in London. Dexia Private Jersey Limited, Hydrocarbon Assets Investment Limited and Mr. Yar’Adua signed the loan agreement on November 18, 2008 and  was effected on December 2, 2008.

“Similarly, it was disclosed, while holding public office, Andy Uba (senator, Anambra state) illegally holds asset in tax haven. It was revealed that Mr. Uba’s offshore structure in the Seychelles was erected with the help of two women, Marta Edghill and Vianca Scott, believed to be his fronts. Minutes of the first meeting of the board of directors of Wentworth Properties Ltd showed that the said meeting was held on November 3, 2004. The minutes said the two women constituted the totality of the board of directors. Marta Edghill and Vianca Scott elected themselves President and Secretary of the company respectively.”

In the light of the above,” CSNAC in pursuant to Sections 1, 2 & 3 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 requesting for a comprehensive information on status of CCB promised investigation on the aforementioned matter. This information will  enable us carry out our mandate of fighting corruption by naming and shaming public office holders involved in corrupt practices.”

Image