Panama Papers: Saraki, David Mark, Nigeria on the verge of catastrophe
The world was shook frigidly, when on Sunday, April 3, a very massive leak of documents dubbed “Panama Papers” were published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
A covert network involving associates of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was revealed by the Panama Papers leak. In addition to the revelation are business ties between members of the FIFA ethics committee and men whom the United States had indicted for corruption.
Associates of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, were indicted in the Panama Papers leak
According to reports, more than 11 million documents all linked to Panama law firm, Mossack Fonseca were leaked, hence the root of the name “Panama Papers”.
ICIJ reports that the firm helped secret shell companies and offshore accounts for global power brokers. CNN reports that Mossack Fonseca knew the identities of the real owners of just 204 of 14,086 companies it had incorporated in Seychelles, an Indian Ocean archipelago which is often termed as a tax haven.
Names
Within the documents were names of highly revered people, some of which are 12 current or former world leaders, as well as 128 other top politicians and public officials.
One very significant name on the list is the prime minister of Iceland, Symundur David Gunnlaugsson, who has ties to the controversial document through the alleged dealings of his wife.
Nigerian connection
As with many cases of such magnitude, Africa’s most populous nation is not left out of the drama. Hence, when the massive documents began to generate heated argument, some Nigerian power players were called into the case.
Nigeria’s retired army general and ex- defence minister, Theophilus Danjuma, was called into the matter. It was said that the general had offshore companies and several secret accounts.
Also notably mentioned were Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, the chairman of MRS Group Companies Saayu Dantata, and a former Delta state governor James Ibori.
If these were the only Nigerian names mentioned in the papers, then there would not be a need to write this piece, as the Nigerian Senate was not left out of the scandal.
Heavyweights like the immediate past Senate president David Mark and his successor Senator Bukola Saraki were also mentioned, both linked to the controversial papers and deals.
David Mark, Saraki and a Senate soon to implode
Mark and Saraki, two high-profile victims in the raging inferno, the former has just been re-elected into the Senate, while the latter is the embattled leader of the Nigerian parliament who is currently facing charges of fraud, including false declaration of assets.
Senators Bukola Saraki and David Mark are to be probed by the EFCC in connection with the Panama Papers
Saraki is accused of failing to declare at least four offshore assets listed under his wife. The assets include property in London’s luxurious Belgravia neighborhood, as well as two companies in the British Virgin Islands and a third in the Seychelles; both which experts have termed ‘tax havens’.
With the links to the Panama Papers, Saraki’s case just went from bad to worse, as more pressure is mounted on Nigeria’s third most powerful man – according to political hierarchy.
Saraki faces trial for accumulating wealth beyond his legitimate income and holding a foreign account while in public office; a move which flouts the 5th schedule of the Nigerian constitution.
Political persecution and a catastrophic conspiracy
Nigerians have already started calling for the heads of both senators, David Mark and Bukola Saraki. There are speculations that the Senate president might resign at any moment due to the amount of pressure mounted on him.
Some reports have it that certain senators who have vowed to remain with Saraki to the end of his trial at the anti-graft court asked the Senate president to consider the resignation option. The option is said to have been tabled before Saraki at a special meeting.
However, even as the option is allegedly given consideration, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at each other’s neck regarding a possible successor.
READ ALSO: For not showing concern towards Saraki’s trial, read what group told APC
If Senator Saraki resigns to save the institution of the legislature, the question becomes who takes the seat. Already, there are names like Senator Abdullahi Adamu representing Nasarawa West (APC), and Suleiman Adokwe of the PDP being whispered in the hallowed chambers.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the APC camp is divided over who will take over if Saraki resigns.
A data leak by a Panama firm selling offshore company has exposed alleged illegal financial activities of some of the world’s most powerful people.
A twisted theory
Senator Saraki has said that he will not step down from office amid various corruption scandals rocking the career of the former Kwara state governor.
The tormented parliamentarian has said those calling for his resignation were being sponsored by politicians who had always opposed his leadership since he emerged the Senate president last June.
On his own part, Senator David Mark has said that his hands are clean over claims linking him to the fraudulent activities and the violation of a federal code of conduct law.
The senator representing Benue state clarified his position on the matter, stating that he does not have a direct or indirect connection to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by the law firm.
For some people, it is the APC-led federal government that is trying to discredit the immediate past Senate president, seeing that Mark might be re-elected as Saraki’s successor, in the eventuality of a resignation.
Proponents of this theory argue that the Panama Papers was an issue raised sometime in 2007, when Mark wanted to contest Senate presidency, but the allegations were denied.
Toyin Saraki, the wife of the Senate president Bukola Saraki, was fingered in the allegations
Saraki has said he is not afraid if trial, stating that if his court hearing goes fairly, he will be vindicated.
Perhaps, the Code of Conduct Tribunal now has a much bigger role to play in Nigeria’s history; seeing that its verdict on Saraki’s case goes a long way in determining if the APC will continue to head the Senate, or if the opposition will hijack the parliament.
As probes begin and Nigerians continue to lend their voices, for and against the resignation of the Senate president in connection with the Panama Papers, one can not but fear that with the way Saraki’s case is being handled, there might soon be yet another royal rumble on the floor of the National Assembly.
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