How Pandora Papers Implicated Ten Nigerian Politicians And 26 Other African Leaders

How Pandora Papers Implicated Ten Nigerian Politicians And 26 Other African Leaders

Iexclusivenews Nigeria reports that According to investigative reporting in the Pandora Papers, Senator Stella Oduah, who represents Anambra North in the upper legislative chamber, allegedly purchased London properties worth N5 billion in cash from 2012 to 2014, while serving as Nigeria’s Aviation Minister.

The Pandora Papers implicated ten Nigerian politicians and 26 other African leaders.

The Pandora Papers is a leak of about 12 million documents that reveals hidden riches, tax evasion, and money laundering by some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people.

The Pandora Papers exposes how wealthy and powerful people around the world, including more than 330 politicians from 90 countries, launder money by forming companies in tax havens such as the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and Switzerland and Singapore.

Oduah founded International Trading and Logistics Company Limited (ITCL) in the tax haven of Seychelles, according to Nigeria’s Premium Times, which is a member of the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Oduah utilized ITCL Nigeria to purchase Flats 303 and 306 Grant House, 90 Liberty Street, London SW9 0BZ on July 12, 2011, just days after taking office as Aviation Minister.

According to the article, none of the four houses were purchased via mortgage finance, implying that Oduah secretly funneled 6.7 million pounds through her offshore firm to make the purchases discreetly.

It’s unclear whether she declared some or all of the properties, as well as the offshore firm ITCL, to the Bureau’s Code of Conduct (CCB). Journalists requested comments from the senator, but he did not answer.

On February 12, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan removed Oduah as Aviation Minister after two panels indicted her for acquiring two bullet-proof automobiles for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for N255 million, in violation of public procurement and appropriation laws.

In August 2021, she defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.