The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has been asked to prosecute the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his alleged failure to declare secret assets stashed in tax havens while he was the Governor of Anambra State.
Rant HQ reports that a Lagos-based law firm, Lawflex, made this known in a petition dated March 23, 2023, and received by the CCB Secretariat in Abuja.
According to the petition signed by Olukoya Ogungbeje, the firm called on the bureau to commence an immediate investigation against Obi and invite him for questioning.
The law firm threatened to seek a “judicial review by way of an Order of Mandamus in a court of competent jurisdiction in a bid to compel performance of public duty” if the CCB fails to take constitutional action within 30 days.
Recall that a Pandora Papers project led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) revealed Leaked files, which were retrieved from 14 offshore service firms around the world, had shown how Obi failed to declare assets kept in tax havens.
In 2010, more than three years after Obi became governor, he reportedly set up his first discreet company in the British Virgin Islands and named the company Gabriella Investments Limited — after his daughter.
The former governor reportedly first approached Acces International, a secrecy enabler in Monaco, France, to help him incorporate an offshore entity.
He was also said to have been a Director of Next International (UK) Limited for 14 months after becoming the governor of Anambra state.
Meanwhile, Section 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal act stipulates that public office holders cannot engage in or direct a private business, except if it is farming.
But Obi was said to have resigned from the company on May 16, 2008, which was 14 months after he assumed office as Anambra governor.
Reacting to the allegations, Obi said the report did not reflect international investment practices.
