The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opened a file on all Nigerians named in the recently revealed Panama Papers international scandal.
According to the Punch Newspapers, the EFCC plans to conduct its investigations independently but will collaborate with INTERPOL.
It would be recalled that certain highly placed Nigerians, in both the private and public sectors, were listed among those who owned and operated shady offshore companies that was incorporated in tax havens by embattled Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.
Some of those named include: the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, and his cousin, Saayu Dantata, Senate President Bukola Saraki, former minister of defense and billionaire, Theophilus Danjuma, former senate president David Mark.
So far, all of them have denied complicity in the scandal, with Mark threatening legal action.
According to a source who spoke to Punch, the federal government was monitoring the way other countries are treating the scandal and how they are carrying out their independent investigations.
The source said that: “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.”
