A former President of the Nigerian Senate, David Mark, was not telling the truth when he denied knowledge of eight offshore companies linked to him as part of the ongoing #PanamaPapers revelations, a series of leaked documents has shown.
PREMIUM TIMES had on April 5 exposed Mr. Mark as operating shell companies in tax havenswhile being a public official in Nigeria, a violation of the country’s code of conduct law.
But shortly after the story broke, Mr. Mark denied owning any of the companieslinked to him in the British Virgin Islands, a notorious tax haven, claiming this newspaper’s reporting was politically-motivated and calculated at tarnishing his image.
“We reiterate categorically that he is not directly or indirectly connected to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by the Mossack Fonseca Law Firm,” the lawmaker said through a statement by his spokesperson, Paul Mumeh. “We challenge all those behind this propaganda and media outburst to prove or show that Senator Mark’s name was mentioned in the leaks.”
In response to the lawmaker’s challenge, this newspaper is now making public documents that strongly established the links between him and the companies listed against his name in the Mossack Fonseca database.
The documents include a due diligence report submitted to Mossack Fonseca by Helms Trust Company, a Jersey based firm, a reference letter written by an associate of Mr. Mark to the Panamanian law firm authenticating his identity, a copy of Mr. Mark’s valid passport at the time, electricity bill receipt of the former senate president’s home in his native Otukpo as well as his official letterhead.
The due diligent report, dated June 12, 2014, categorised Mr. Mark as a politically exposed person (PEP) and identified him as the beneficial owner of the companies listed against his name. It also showed that the companies were active, at least as at June 2014.
The companies 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.
The other documents in Mr. Mark’s file with Mossack Fonseca were apparently sent by the lawmaker to the law firm as
