Probe Nigerians named in Panama report – Fraud examiners urge FG

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners on Friday told the Federal Government to probe Nigerians named in the infamous Panama Papers report.

The President of the association, Mr Godwin Oyedokun, made the call in an interview with a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said, “relevant Nigerian agencies should begin to ask questions as to who, how, where and when with respect to Nigerian citizens named in the report.”

Oyedokun argued that there was need for all incomes made by citizens to be subjected to taxation no matter the source of such incomes.

The association president said that Nigerians fingered in the scandal should be invited by relevant anti-corruption agencies to explain how they made the list.

“The provisions of our tax laws are clear that all incomes are to be subjected to taxation, no matter the source, even if such income is from prostitution.
“Panama Papers is a huge leak of confidential documents that revealed how the rich and powerful around the world use tax havens to hide their wealth,’’ he explained.

Oyedokun said that the report revealed that 11milllion documents were leaked from one of the world’s most secretive companies, a Panama law firm, known as Mossack Fonseca.

The documents showed how Mossack Fonseca had helped its clients to launder money, avoid tax and evade sanctions.
He argued that although the Nigerians named in the scandal had denied any wrong doing, government should look into the matter because of the anti-corruption stance of the present administration.

“I also advise that countries named in the scandal should take necessary steps to make demands for the payment of taxes on such incomes,” Oyedokun said.