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Peter Obi has been named in a global money laundering scandal

The former governor set up secret companies abroad and refused to declare them as part of his assets.

A former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has been named in a global tax evasion scandal and investigative reporting carried out by more than 600 journalists in 117 countries.

The investigation is called Pandora Papers.

The BBC writes that the “Pandora Papers is a leak of almost 12 million documents that reveals hidden wealth, tax avoidance and, in some cases, money laundering by some of the world’s rich and powerful.”

The Pandora Papers details how rich and powerful individuals from across the world– including more than 330 politicians from 90 countries–launder money by setting up businesses in tax havens like the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, as well as in countries like Switzerland and Singapore.

These places are called ‘tax havens’ because it is easy to set up companies there, there have laws that make it difficult to identify owners of companies and there is low or no corporation tax within their jurisdictions.

According to Premium Times, a Nigerian publication that was part of the global investigation under the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) umbrella in Washington DC, Obi discreetly set up a company called Gabriella Investments Limited, in the British Virgin Island.

He named the company Gabriella Investments Limited, after his daughter Gabriella Nwamaka.

Obi, the online newspaper reports, first approached Acces International, a secrecy enabler in Monaco, France, to help him incorporate an offshore entity in one of the world’s most notorious tax havens.

Acces International then contracted a local registered agent – Aleman Cordero Galindo & Lee Trust (BVI) Limited (Alcogal) — to set up Gabriella Investments Limited for Obi.

Gabriella Investment Limited was born on November 17, 2010.

On the same day the company was incorporated, the nominee directors met and issued 50,000 shares of Gabriella Investment in favour of Hill International Holding Corporation, a shell International Business Company operating under the laws of Belize, another tax haven.

The director of the company is Mr. Van Vuuren, who is also one of the directors of Gabriella Investment.

Change of name and breaking Nigeria’s laws

Gabriella Investment is now known as PMGG Investments Limited in what is a combination of the first letters of the first names of Obi’s nuclear family: P for Peter (ex-governor), M for Margaret (the ex-governor’s wife), G for Gabriella (the ex-governor’s daughter) and G for Gregory (the ex-governor’s son).

Obi has also created a trust known as The Gabriella Settlement, an entity also registered in the BVI.

The Gabriella Settlement is the sole shareholder of PMGG Investments.

Obi also incorporated another company called Next International (UK) Limited on May 16, 1996, in London.

Investigations show that Obi continued to act as director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming Governor of Anambra State, thereby breaking Nigeria’s laws.

In Nigeria, a person is statutorily obligated to withdraw from engaging in or directing a private business, upon becoming a public officer, as stipulated in Section Six (6) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

Obi resigned from Next International on May 16, 2008, 14 months after he assumed duties as Anambra Governor.

Obi also contravened Section 11 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which stipulates that public officers are required to declare “immediately after taking office and thereafter all” their properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his (or her) unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.

Investigations have revealed that Obi did not declare the companies he tucked away in offshore secrecy havens to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Asked about his offshore assets and shell companies, Obi told Premium Times that: “I am sure you too will not like to pay inheritance tax if you can avoid it.”

Obi, 60, was PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections.

He often preaches frugality, parsimony, anti-corruption, lean governments and probity every other day on prime time television.

He also once told the world that he wears only one wrist watch, even though images of him at different events showed him wearing different brands of pricey wristwatches.

Source: Pulseng

BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap Ondo varsity lecturer, demand N10m ransom

Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a lecturer at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko, AAUA, Ondo state.

The academic, Mayowa David Adinlewa was abducted during the weekend along Akure-Ikere-Ekiti road.

The abductors have contacted the lecturer’s brother, Toyin, demanding for N10 million ransom.

It was gathered that the victim was on his way to visit his his family at Ikere in Ekiti when he was waylaid by the gunmen.

The assailants have reportedly spoken to Adinlewa’s wife, warning her against alerting the police if she wanted to see her husband alive.

It was also gathered that the victim spoke with his wife during her conversation with the kidnappers.

He begged his wife to ensure that he is freed as he had trekked for hours without food and water, stating that his health was deteriorating rapidly.

When she requested for a location, the kidnappers forcefully retrieved the phone from the victim’s wife and switched it off.

The abduction was confirmed by a lecturer of the university who promised that the victim will soon be released.

When asked if other lecturers were planning to raise the ransom, he said that “all I can tell you is that he would soon be released. We are on top of the situation.”

Contacted, the state police command spokesperson Funmi Odunlami said, “initially, we thought it was a case of an abandoned vehicle. It was later that the family contacted the police that their son had been kidnapped.

“The incident happened between the boundary of Ondo and Ekiti States.

“Our anti-kidnapping unit has swung into action towards rescuing the victim. They are already combing the bush and the axis where it happened.

Odunlami said: “I’m not aware if contact has been made with the family. I don’t know anything about the demand for ransom.

Yahaya Bello Dumps 2023 Presidential Ambition, Eyes VP Slot

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has dumped his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the rulingAllProgressivesCongress (APC), DailyIndependent hasre¬liably gathered.
The governor, who has not hidden his desire to succeed PresidentMuhammaduBuhari, recently said Nigerians were askinghimtocontestfortheseat of thepresidencyin2023general elections.
He also said that he believes he has the necessary qualities to perform excellently aspresident, especially in uniting the nation, which, according to him, is seri¬ously divided.

“Theyouthsandwomenand all Nigerians, including very objective elite, are asking me to run for president in 2023. And I believe that it is high time that we looked into capacity — who can do the job? Who is going to unify this country? And I think they are seeing something in me that they are asking me to come and unite and fix this country,” he said.

However, speaking with Daily Independent, a serving Commissioner in Kogi State, who is a close ally to the gov¬ernor, said the governor has toned down his presidential ambition “given a strong feel¬ing that the APC might pick its presidential candidate from the South”.

Healsoaddedthattheresolve by the Southern Governors’ Fo¬rum (SGF) that they will work against any political party that picks a presidential flagbear¬er from the North in 2023 has really caused a major setback to Governor Bello’s ambition, even though he is yet to formal¬ly declare.

“Yes, the governor has not given up but he is lying low now. Many youths and other Nigeri¬ans are still asking him to run in 2023andmanysolidaritygroups are still springing up every day declaring support for him.

“However, recent develop¬mentsin the polity, especially the resolution by the Southern gov¬ernors that they won’t support any Northerner has made him to tone down on his ambition. While some people in the APC are calling for the presidential ticket to be thrown open, the majority of party members are calling on the party leadership to zone it to the South, given the fact that President Buhari who is from the North will be completing eight years in 2023.

“So, the governor will formally make his position known soon on whether he will contest the presidency or not but he has not given up, especially with mas¬sive support and endorsement he keeps receiving throughout the country.”

Another credible source in the party, however, informed Daily Independent that the gov¬ernor has already begun consul¬tations with party leaders on be¬coming the running mate of the would-be presidential candidate of the party, if the presidential ticket is eventually zoned to the South.

“I am aware he is leaving his options open for running mate to the presidential candidate if the ticket is zoned to the South because naturally the vice-pres¬idential candidate will be picked from the North. But that is also hinged on many factors. If the presidential candidate is a Mus¬lim, can Nigerians afford to vote for two Muslims on the same ticket?”

When contacted, Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s Commission¬er for Information, declined to respond to our enquiries on whether the governor has given up on his presidential ambition.

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has dumped his ambition to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the rulingAllProgressivesCongress (APC), DailyIndependent hasreliably gathered.

The governor, who has not hidden his desire to succeed PresidentMuhammaduBuhari, recently said Nigerians were askinghimtocontestfortheseat of thepresidencyin2023general elections.

He also said that he believes he has the necessary qualities to perform excellently aspresident, especially in uniting the nation, which, according to him, is seriously divided.

However, speaking with Daily Independent, a serving Commissioner in Kogi State, who is a close ally to the governor, said the governor has toned down his presidential ambition “given a strong feeling that the APC might pick its presidential candidate from the South”.

Healsoaddedthattheresolve by the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) that they will work against any political party that picks a presidential flagbearer from the North in 2023 has really caused a major setback to Governor Bello’s ambition, even though he is yet to formally declare.

“Yes, the governor has not given up but he is lying low now. Many youths and other Nigerians are still asking him to run in 2023andmanysolidaritygroups are still springing up every day declaring support for him.

“However, recent developmentsin the polity, especially the resolution by the Southern governors that they won’t support any Northerner has made him to tone down on his ambition. While some people in the APC are calling for the presidential ticket to be thrown open, the majority of party members are calling on the party leadership to zone it to the South, given the fact that President Buhari who is from the North will be completing eight years in 2023.

“So, the governor will formally make his position known soon on whether he will contest the presidency or not but he has not given up, especially with massive support and endorsement he keeps receiving throughout the country.”

Another credible source in the party, however, informed Daily Independent that the governor has already begun consultations with party leaders on becoming the running mate of the would-be presidential candidate of the party, if the presidential ticket is eventually zoned to the South.

“I am aware he is leaving his options open for running mate to the presidential candidate if the ticket is zoned to the South because naturally the vice-presidential candidate will be picked from the North. But that is also hinged on many factors. If the presidential candidate is a Muslim, can Nigerians afford to vote for two Muslims on the same ticket?”

When contacted, Kingsley Fanwo, the state’s Commissioner for Information, declined to respond to our enquiries on whether the governor has given up on his presidential ambition.

Presidency Reacts As Ethiopian Prime Minister ‘Becomes’ Buhari’s Personal Driver In Addis Ababa

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of the East African country of Ethiopia.

As earlier reported, Buhari is billed to attend the inauguration of the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for a second five-year term in office on Monday.

Buhari, who departed Abuja and arrived the Ethiopian capital on Sunday, is scheduled to deliver a goodwill message at the inauguration ceremony.

He is also expected to attend a State Banquet in honour of visiting Heads of State and Government.

Naija News reports that upon arrival in the East African country, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, His Excellency, Abiy Ahmed Ali opted to drive President Muhammadu Buhari out of the airport as he arrived in Addis Ababa ahead of the Prime Minister’s inauguration tomorrow.

Buhari in Ethiopia

Reacting to the development, Buhari’s personal assistant on digital/new media Bashir Ahmad gushed about the respect and honour the Nigerian leader elicits from other African leaders.

Taking to his Facebook account on Sunday, he wrote; “The respect most of African leaders have for President Buhari is second to none, the Ethiopian Prime Minister today after receiving the President at the Airport also offered to personally drive him to where he’d be staying in Addis Ababa.”

Source: Naija News

Many Killed As Gunmen Attack, Burn DSS, Police HQ In Anambra

Unknown gunmen on Sunday attacked and burnt down the police and the Department of State Services offices in Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to witnesses, the attacked occured on Sunday afternoon around 1:00 p.m.

It was gathered that when hoodlums stormed the offices, they overpowered personnel and set fire to the facilities.

“The attackers said they don’t want to see any Nigerian flag standing in the area,” a witness told Peoples Gazette.

The number of those killed or injured cannot be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report.

In related news, an aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe, has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, of burning down his house in Nnewi, Anambra State.

In a post on his Facebook page on Sunday, Joe Igbokwe accused IPOB members of being behind the incident.

According to the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, he was not hurt

“IPOB invaded my house in Nnewi about now. Iam sure they raised down the my house giving the jerrycans of petrol I saw being offloaded from their Sienna car via CCTV. To God be the glory . Iam still alive. My Study is my greatest regret,” Igbokwe wrote

Just In: ‘IPOB burns down’ Joe Igbokwe’s house

Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has claimed that his house in Nnewi in Anambra State, has been razed by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) insurgents.

Igbokwe claimed the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, and he said IPOB members are behind it.

More to follow…

Tying of legs after snakebite wrong, fuelling amputations, deaths – Experts

Health experts have cautioned Nigerians against the practice of tying the legs of victims of snakebite with a cloth to stop the movement of the snake venom.

According to the experts, the practice and other crude management of snakebite are fuelling avoidable mortality and morbidity.

The call by the medical experts is coming after the Federal Government called for renewed vigour among stakeholders in snakebite management

One major harmful practice of snakebite management that should be discouraged, according to the experts, is the tying of the leg of victims after snakebite.

They stressed that the practice is fuelling cases of limb amputation.

According to them, victims of snakebite should rather immediately call for help and ensure they are taken to good health facilities for appropriate treatment.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PUNCH HealthWise, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. Bright Igbinoba, said there are things that were done in the past when a person was bitten by a snake that are being discouraged nowadays.

Igbinoba said it is also important to quickly rush a person bitten by a snake to the hospital to avoid orthopaedic effects that could lead to complications and amputation of the limb.

The orthopaedic surgeon explained, “The first thing that should not be done after a person is bitten by a snake is tying something tight around the limb.

“Normally, once a person is bitten by a snake, the limb is swollen. So, as you tie it, it becomes more swollen and blood will not flow into the limb and the limb will die. And once the limb is dead, it will need an amputation.

“Before, if a person has a snake bite, they will ask him or her to tear a piece of clothing and tie the leg. Tying that piece of clothing on the leg has been found to increase the risk of amputation.

“Again, the practice of cutting the bite mark of a snake with a razor blade should be discouraged. It has been found to introduce infection.

“Also, the practice of sucking the venom by mouth is also discouraged. It doesn’t really help because the venom can enter the mouth of the person trying to suck it.

“The use of cold compress is also discouraged.”

Igbinoba noted that snakebite might not lead to death or amputation if people get help on time and seek appropriate treatment.

According to the World Health Organisation, snakebite is a neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries.

The United Nations health agency says about 5.4 million snakebites occur each year, resulting in 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenoming (poisoning from snakebite).

“There are between 81, 410 and 137, 880 deaths and around three times as many amputations and other permanent disabilities each year,” WHO says.

Recalled that the Minister of State for Health, Dr.OlorunnimbeMamora, had recently said Nigeria records an average of 15,000 to 20,000 cases of snakebites every year.

Quoting a recent survey, Mamora said snakebites in the country occurred at 479 cases per 100,000 people.

The minister had said, “Nigeria records an average of 15,000 to 20,000 cases of snakebite every year, with about 2,000 people killed and between 1,700 and 2,000 people whose legs or arms are amputated to save their lives after snakebite.

“States with the most cases of snakebite in the country are Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Nasarawa, Enugu, Kogi, Kebbi, Oyo, Benue and Taraba.”

He called for renewed vigour to ensure strong partnerships among member states, development partners, donors and other stakeholders for snakebite management.

Giving insight into snake venoms and their complications, Igbinoba said, “We have the ones that destroy the blood and are very toxic to the blood. Those ones are called the haemotoxins venom or snakebite.

“Snakes with this type of venom, once they bite a person, their venom enters the bloodstream and starts destroying the blood. And the person will start bleeding from the snakebite and can bleed into the internal organs and die from there.

“Then you have the neurotoxic venom. The ones take over the nerves of the body and weaken the person and the person cannot move again.

“The venom will completely take over the person’s nervous system. The last type of venom is necrotizing fasciitis. Now, what do snakes do when they bite an animal or prey, the venoms contain enzymes and so as they inject it into a person’s body, the body starts digesting.

“That digestion, what it does is to kill the cells. And that is what causes the limb to start getting rotten.

“It causes it to have a big wound and swell,” he explained.

The physician advised that people should avoid drugs not prescribed by experts when they are bitten by a snake.

“People should immediately call for help once they are bitten by a snake.

The person should be quickly rushed to the hospital.

“The person should try and know the type of snake so that we will be able to know the type of venom that the snake has.

“It is also important to note the time of the bite so that we can plan and know the speed at which to attend to the patient”, the surgeon counselled.

WHO further says most of the deaths from snakebite occur in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

“In Asia, up to 2 million people are envenomed by snakes each year, while in Africa there are an estimated 435 000 to 580 000 snakebites annually that need treatment.

“Bites by venomous snakes can cause acute medical emergencies involving severe paralysis that may prevent breathing, cause bleeding disorders that can lead to fatal haemorrhage, cause irreversible kidney failure and severe local tissue destruction that can cause permanent disability and limb amputation,” WHO added.

Just In: Abducted Zamfara Speaker’s father dies in captivity

Alhaji Abubakar, the father of the Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Nasiru Magarya who was recently abducted by bandits, has died while in captivity.

Recall that the victim who was the District Head of Magarya village, was alongside other residents of the area, including family members, abducted in early August by armed men suspected to be bandits terrorizing parts of the State.

However, 16 victims, including a three-month old baby Khadija Muazu, and her mother Hauwa Muazu, were rescued by the State police command on Saturday.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba Elkanah who confirmed the rescue, said the victims were abandoned by their abductors who are fleeing the forest following offensives been unleashed against them by security operatives.

The commissioner stated that the speaker’s father was still missing as he could not be found amongst the rescued victims.

Subsequently, the elder brother of the deceased, Malam Dahiru Magarya who was among the released kidnapped victims told newsmen in the State that the Speaker’s father had died of heart attack while in the abductors’ den.

“One of the bandits’ kingpins popularly known as Kachalla informed me that my brother died due to heart failure while in captivity.

“We were separated when they kidnapped us, they took my brother to another camp but it was Kachalla, one of the commanders of the bandits that told me about the death of my brother which was a result of a heart attack hours before our rescue,” he said.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muhammed Shehu could not be reached as of the time of filing this report. His phone line was not reachable at the moment.

Don’t Be Afraid of COVID-19, Adeboye Tells Church Members

General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye yesterday urged the members of the Church not to be afraid of the COVID-19, pointing out that only people whose time had come would die of the pandemic as the Lord had said.

He encouraged the members of the RCCG not to be frightened by the pandemic because they would not die before their time according to God’s words, warning however that “don’t be afraid does not mean be careless.”

He made these remarks Friday night during October Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption Camp, Km 46, Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Mowe, Ogun-State.

He explained how many people had bombarded him with questions about his stand on COVID-19 vaccination.

He said he declined to comment on the subject on the ground that it bordered on the issue of national interests.

According to him, only the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) or Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) should respond to such issues.

“I am a man under authority. So, I keep my mouth shut. What I am saying now does not necessarily represent the view of CAN or PFN. It is just my view vis-à-vis RCCG. I am not talking to Nigeria, but to my children, who are members of the RCCG.”

He held that safety “is of the Lord. It is of the mercy of the Lord that we are not consumed. If we are to go by what scientists said, we should by now be counting the number of deaths in Nigeria in hundreds of thousands. That is what the scientists projected then.

“But there is a God who answers prayers. When He told me on January 1, 2020 that the world would behave like a child in convulsion, I told you. When He said later the whole world would have a compulsory holiday, I did not know all the details then because we only know in part. We only know what He tells us. God is not talkative.

“When it became clear that we were for very serious trouble, scientists began to say what would happen to Africa now. But I cried to God. I reminded Him of the prayers of the elders. I also reminded Him that it is only God that can chase away flies for a cow that has no tail.”

Adeboye explained that he would only receive COVID-19 vaccine for the sake of the gospel, noting that he had never told his congregation not to be vaccinated.

“You have never heard that from me. Rather than live in fear or doubt, get vaccinated. If you believe that getting vaccinated will put your mind at rest, then go ahead.

“Daddy, are you saying that you too could be vaccinated? If there are nations in the world that say that I cannot come to preach the gospel there because of vaccination, I will do anything for Jesus Christ.

“If vaccination or no vaccination is going to hinder me from doing the work God has called me to do, even if they ask me to be vaccinated 100 times, I will be vaccinated. So, don’t ever say that you heard from me that I said that you should not be vaccinated.”

Adeboye, however, described as laughable the move by some governors who made COVID-19 vaccination compulsory before people could attend church gatherings.

The pastor noted that such leaders were missing the point, saying the number of vaccine jabs available in the country was not enough to go round.

He said, “The number of doses available in the country is not even enough for 10 per cent of the total population of the nation. How do you then say whoever does not take the vaccine will not be able to go to the bank and church?

“It means 90 percent of the population will not be able to access their money. We will need to go back to the olden days of keeping money, I hope you know. Well, I believe they just want to make us laugh. You know in Nigeria, we need things to make us laugh.”

Anambra loses N19.6bn on every sit-at-home – Soludo

Former Central Bank Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming governorship elections in Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has said the State loses N19.6 billion every day that it is locked down.

Soludo stated this at an enlarged meeting with Anambra State Elders and Stakeholders Forum, and Forum of Heads of Broadcast Media Stations in Anambra State.

He called on the people spilling blood in the State to have a re-think as such actions do not define who Anambra people are.

“Anambra State economy loses an estimated sum of N19.6 billion every time the sit-at-home directive is enforced in the state.

“Such actions do not define who we are. That is why we are calling on those responsible to stop because we are hurting ourselves.”

Professor Soludo while calling on Ndi Anambra to be watchful, praised Governor Willie Obiano for what he called outstanding achievements.

“Governor Willie Obiano has delivered sustainable legacy projects to Ndi Anambra including the Anambra International airport, the International convention centre, Awka and the Awka stadium.”

He said the governor has done well despite overseeing two recessions and the state suffering dwindling federal allocations.

Source: daily Post