Panama Papers: Ex-Nigeria Senate President, David Mark, illegally operates secret companies in tax haven

Panama Papers: Ex-Nigeria Senate President, David Mark, illegally operates secret companies in tax haven Senator David Mark

Nigeria’s immediate past Senate President, David Mark, has links to at least eight offshore shell companies while holding public office, in violation of a federal code of conduct law, a massive leak of files belonging to Mossack Fonseca, a law firm in Panama, shows. The files, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, show how Mossack Fonseca, reputed as one of the most secretive companies in the world, helped clients register offshore entities, some of which are then used to launder money, evade tax and dodge sanctions. They also provide details of the hidden financial dealings of 128 more politicians and public officials around the world, including in Nigeria. The trove of 11.5 million files shows how a global industry of law firms and big banks sells financial secrecy to politicians, fraudsters and drug traffickers as well as billionaires, celebrities and sports stars. The revelations are among the findings of a lengthy investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and more than 100 other global news organizations – including PREMIUM TIMES. PREMIUM TIMES is the only Nigerian publication involved in the investigation, which lasted a year. As a former senate president, Mr. Mark stands out among other notable Nigerians named in the files. The 68-year old former military officer spent the last 40 years covered by the investigation largely as public office holder. But he is widely seen to be far richer than his legitimate incomes could have provided. He served as military governor of Nigeria’s north-central state of Niger, minister of communications, and later as president of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015. Mr. Mark has been in the senate since 1999, and remains a senator of the federal republic, representing Benue South Zone in the upper legislative chamber. Mr. Mark and his secret companies The Mosseca Fonseca database shows that Mr. Mark is one of Nigeria’s most extensive users of offshore shell companies, even while being a public official. In documents, Mr. Mark was linked to eight active companies registered in the British Virgin Island. They are Sikera Overseas S.A, Colsan Enterprises Limited, Goldwin Transworld Limited, Hartland Estates Limited, Marlin Holdings Limited, Medley Holdings Limited, Quetta Properties Limited, and Centenary Holdings Limited. In the documents, Mr. Mark was repeatedly marked as a politically exposed person, and at a point the former Senate President had to send documents, across to Mosseca Fonseca to prove that he was clean. It remains unclear what businesses Mr. Mark is conducting with the companies. While not all owners or operators of such offshore entities are criminals, owning or maintaining interest in private companies while serving as a public official is against Nigerian laws. Section 6(b) of the Code of Conduct Act says a public office holder shall not, “except where he is not employed on full‐time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade”. In a previous investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Mark’s estranged wife, Vikky Preye Mark, was also exposed as an operator of secret offshore accounts. Mrs. Mark operated an account with the Swiss branch of HSBC, but with details made largely secret. Although she was known within the bank as the beneficial owner of the account, she was largely identified with a secret code – 14312MP. Mrs. Mark opened the account on December 18, 1989 and closed it on July 12, 1991. About that time, her husband, then a top ranking army officer, had served as military administrator of Niger State and federal minister of communications, a period during which he is believed to have made a fortune. Court papers during a messy divorce with his wife suggested that some of Mr. Mark’s children schooled in Switzerland, but it is not clear whether it was during that period that Mrs. Mark operated the HSBC account. The court papers also showed that the Marks operated foreign accounts elsewhere. About six million pounds in four accounts – three at the Northern Bank, Isle of Man, and one at the Allied Irish Bank, Jersey – were frozen in October 2000 as a result of the ancillary relief sought by Victoria Mark in the couple’s divorce case. Part 1, Section 7 of the Code of Conduct law provides that, “Any public officer specified in the Second Schedule to this Act or any other persons as the President may, from time to time, by order prescribe, shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria.” If the Code of Conduct Bureau decides to slam charges on Mr. Mark following the Panama Papers revelation, the politician may lose his senatorial seat, a position he won back just on February 20 after his initial election of March 28, 2015 was annulled by a tribunal. His fiercest challenger had alleged irregularity. Section 23 of the Code of Conduct law, which stipulates punishment for violators, say: (1) Where the (Code of Conduct) Tribunal finds a public officer guilty of contravening any of the provisions of this Act, it shall impose upon that officer any of the punishments specified under subsection (2) of this section. (2) The punishment which the Tribunal may impose shall include any of the following- (a) Vacation of office or any elective or nominated office, as the case may be; (b) Disqualification from holding any public office (whether elective or not) for a period not exceeding ten years; and (c) Seizure and forfeiture to the State of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office. The #Panama Papers had on Monday exposed Mr. Mark’s colleague in the Senate, Bukola Saraki, as failing to declare at least four assets belonging to his wife, all tucked away in secret offshore territories, as required by Nigerian laws. But the President of the Senate denied any wrongdoing, saying he “declared his assets properly in accordance with the relevant legislation,” and that the charges against him “are both unfounded and politically motivated.” Meanwhile the spokesperson to the former senate president claim they are not sure about the accuracy of the claims,” Mr. Mumeh said. “I need to consult him (Mr. Mark) before commenting.”

Buhari breaks silence, orders ‘herdsmen’ brought to justice

Buhari breaks silence, orders ‘herdsmen’ brought to justice Culled from premium times.

Herdsmen Attacks: Buhari working hard to fish out culprits – South East APC President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the recent upsurge in communal violence by suspected herdsmen, and has ordered the police and the military to “take all necessary action to stop the carnage”. Mr. Buhari’s directive, Wednesday, followed the latest attack, on Monday, in Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in Enugu State, where dozens of people were reportedly killed by heavily armed herdsmen. An earlier attack in Agatu, Benue State, in March, killed over 100 people, locals said. Mr. Buhari has been accused of not responding firmly to the attacks that have spread to other states, and has been widely criticised for his silence. The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said on Monday the government was working “silently” to end the carnage. In a statement Wednesday, signed by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Buhari said stopping the violence was now a priority for his administration. Following continuing reports of attacks by “herdsmen” on communities across the country, particularly Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, President Muhammadu Buhari assures all Nigerians, once again, of his administration’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country. President Buhari unreservedly condemns the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and other such acts of extreme violence against communities in other states of the Federation. Acting on the president’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of the nation’s other security agencies are already taking urgent steps to fully investigate the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Ending the recent upsurge of attacks on communities by herdsmen reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons is now a priority on the Buhari Administration’s agenda for enhanced national security and the Armed Forces and Police have clear instructions to take all necessary action to stop the carnage. In keeping with the President’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police, the General Officer Commanding the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army and the Director of the Department of State Security in Enugu State have visited Ukpabi Nimbo to personally oversee investigations into the attack on the community and ongoing efforts to apprehend the culprits. Meanwhile, President Buhari is scheduled to meet with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi later today to receive further briefing on the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and discuss additional measures to forestall similar attacks and restore public confidence. The President urges all Nigerians to remain calm and assured of his administration’s readiness to deploy all required personnel and resources to remove this new threat to the collective security of the nation

IDOMA REGION, WHICH AREA WILL BE THE NEXT JOS, AGATU, OR ENUGU?

IDOMA REGION, WHICH AREA WILL BE THE NEXT JOS, AGATU, OR ENUGU? It's a known fact, that any community that made the mistake of allowing the Fulani herdsmen to settle in their hundreds later regret such an act. Arm robbery, Rape, Communal clash, massacre are some of the menace that trail these herdsmen. Have you heard of what is going on in IGANGAN? Do you think your town or village is not the next? Have you forgotten so soon, how the herdsmen rob and rape women on their way to Maya Market? Will you be silent until you or your loved one become the next victim? This is a clarion call for every Indigene of Idoma land to voice their opinion and reject "GRAZING LAND BILLS" If the federal government is allow to grab our land for the herdsmen, they will become gods, our traditional rulers can't summon them anymore. Some day they will seek political power against us, they will ask to be elected as councilors and then Local Government Chairman, if we refuse, then they make us feel what they unleash in AGATU: VIOLENCE! This is not a story to LIKE, It is a *Save Our Soul* message to share! Recently the people of Ukpabi, Nimbo, in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State were seriously under attack from the menace of this herdsmen. These people has hosted the Fulani Herdsmen, just like the AGATUS did, who in turn graze their cattle on their farm, rape their women, raze their home and kill their men: IT'S TYPICAL OF THEM, THAT IS HOW THEY REPAY FAVOUR! May OTHER PART OF IDOMA’S not have reason to cry over this type of calamity that could have been prevented? GRAZING LAND BILLS: What does it mean for the Idoma’s ? Northerners have been privileged to rule Nigeria more than any other tribes since its independence. Throughout these periods the leaders, both at the federal and 19 states under its control, had kept on embezzling and mismanaging our resources without making any concrete plan for cattle rearing which is the predominant farming activities in the northern states. The realities is now on ground and almost unbearable for the northern states. However, instead of bravely embracing the challenges and found solutions to it, the northern government politically and maliciously intend shifting the responsibility to other agro-ecological and geo-political zones. This they intend carrying out through national assembly. The national assembly is considering bills for the establishment of the grazing lands throughout the federation. When the bills is passed, what implications does it have for the Idoma’s? When the bills is passed the lands will be forcibly collected with little or no compensation. Such land will then be allocated to the Fulani herdsmen for cattle grazing. Firstly, we have been living harmoniously with our Fulani farmers from ages and wherever they are, the chief and king of such villages or towns respectively are regarded as their landlord and they (Fulanis) always pay homage to and respect this tradition. We regard them as visitors and they operate within this limit. However, the passage of this bills give Fulani farmers land-lordship of our inherited land and property.

Secondly, Fulanis are cattle farmers, our fathers are crop farmers. So, the passage of the bills is a way of ROBBING Peter to PAY Paul. If our landed properties will be collected for the cattle farmers, what will be the faith of our crop farmers? Is the government ready to give free seedlings, fertilizers, and tractor or storage facilities for the crop farmers? Is the government ready to rent and stock shops for our mothers? Whatever that is good for the goose is also good for the ganders. Importantly, the bills specifically targeted at South-west and middle belt agro-ecological zone which is the tropical rain forest. Some parts of the north is already suffering from desert encroachment while South-south and South-east have limited land resources and the little they have are polluted with oil spillage, mangrove and marsh land. It is almost sure that whenever such request comes to Benue state, it will be pushed to the Ogbadibo Local Government and some other local Government within Idoma Region. Therefore, a save our souls messages and calls should be sent to Sen. David mark, the senator representing Benue south senatorial district. This should not be politicised. The seized land is not going to affect only APC nor PDP nor Accord or SDP. It’s about our future. It’s about our unborn generation. It’s about preserving and protecting our traditional institution. Who knows when they get the lands, may be Serikis and Emir will be installed who may not be answerable to our King. So, well-meaning indigenes of Idoma, traditional councils, friends, relatives and political associates of these honourables should let them know what passage of this bills meant to us. Arise Idoma’s let protect our land, our heritage and our future.

The beautiful story of olajumoke

From Bread Seller to Top Nigerian Model: Olajumoke

The beautiful story of Olajumoke Orisaguna continues as she has been featured on CNN.
During an interview with CNN’s Stephanie Busari, Olajumoke and TY Bello shared the story of how photo bombing a shoot with international star, Tinie Tempah, has changed her life, from a bread seller to an international model.

“I never expected that this could ever happen to me. My friends have told me they saw me on TV and they are really happy. My parents cannot believe their own child can become such a success. They are all so happy.” Jumoke said with tears in her eyes.
In her part, TY Bello says why Olajumoke’s story connects with everyone is because everybody has a dream and is looking for that magical break.

“I think the reason why the story connects with everyone is because everybody has dreams. This is a very very tough time, especially in my country.
“Everyone is looking for that magical break I don’t think anyone planned this. I think this is definitely divine because the way people have connected with it is phenomenal. Its a phenomenal story” she said.
More photos;

WAR ON IDOMA PROTESTERS

Security agents declares war on Idoma protesters in Makurdi, manhandle leaders

  

Reporter gathered that there are ongoing moves by security agencies in Benue State to disrupt the 10,000 man protest by the Idoma people. The Idoma community is organising a protest match  against the refusal of the Tiv ethnic group  to allow them govern the state after almost 40 years. The development irked the Idoma Governors Support Group alongside the Idoma People of Nigeria to organise 10,000 -man -match in protest of the marginalisation of the people. The protest, which was billed to take place in Makurdi today has been temporarily halted as security   reportedly swooped  on them. Speaking with our correspondent on phone, one of the leader of the protest, Comrade Prince Yemi Itodo said two of their members have been arrested . “As I’m taking to you, Comrade PerHot Apeh of Idoma Governor Support Group and Comrade Magaji Alidu, former NAIS President have been held by the Directorate of state security [DSS ] in Makurdi as security operatives have moved to frustrate solidarity rally for Idoma Governorship. It is like civil war here.”

TWO KILLED IN ENUGU EXPRESSWAY.

Two killed in trailer accident in Enugu (graphic)

A trailer carrying pure water had an accident along Nairn Triangle near NNPC mega station in Enugu this morning, resulting in the death of two people. See one victim after the cut...*viewer discretion advised*

Stock Closeout.

Stock Closeout sale at Silverbird Galeria till Saturday March 5th

 

Stock closeout sale started big time at Silverbird over this weekend from Friday 26th February till Sat 5th March. The prices are apparently unbelievable and fantastic value. Please go and see for yourself... Hurry as stocks won't last long..