The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the international police organization (INTERPOL) have been working in concert to move against Nigerians whose names have appeared in the Panama leaks.
The Panama Papers are the biggest leaks in the history of journalism, extracted covertly from the Panamanian law firm of Mossack Fonseca. 11.5 million documents have detailed how the rich, celebrities, government personalities, drug barons and politicians opened offshore companies to evade taxes in certain cases, with monies from their home countries.
The Punch reports that the federal government has opened a file on all Nigerians whose names have been mentioned in the Panama Papers.
Some of those Nigerians are senate president Bukola Saraki, his predecessor David Mark, former army chief and philanthropist Theophilus Danjuma, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and his cousin, Saayu Dantata.
According to the story, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had been gathering reports from local and international media as well as the responses being given by those named.
It was also learnt that the EFCC would then carry out its independent investigation and involve INTERPOL if necessary.
One source told the newspaper that the Federal Government was studying the body language of the international community and looking at how other countries were handling investigations.
The source, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said, “We are studying the matter closely. In fact, we have opened a file and all reports are being gathered.
“We want all the names to be released first before launching full investigations. The issue is a tricky one. After preliminary investigations, we will seek advice from the Office of the Attorney General because investigations of such nature will need foreign collaboration.”
The post EFCC, INTERPOL to go after Mark, Saraki, others over #PanamaPapers appeared first on Ekekeee.