Seven prominent Nigerians mentioned in the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers are being investigated by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over allegations concerning undisclosed foreign assets and business interests.
Those affected include former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and David Mark, Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, and Stella Oduah, who previously served as Minister of Aviation.
Others named are former Delta State governor James Ibori, late Bayelsa governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and retired President of the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Stella Ogene.
Premium Times, which participated in the international investigation coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), reported the development after receiving confirmation from sources within the bureau.
According to one source, officers have been assigned to handle the cases involving the seven Nigerians, while other public officials identified in the leaked documents may also be investigated.
An aide to the bureau’s chairman equally confirmed that the inquiries were ongoing.
The latest development follows efforts dating back to 2021, when the CCB requested assistance from Premium Times after the Pandora Papers revelations emerged. The bureau had expressed interest in examining the findings and pursuing possible prosecution where necessary.
On October 18, 2021, Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, assured the agency that the newspaper was willing to cooperate with its investigation.
Mojeed explained that the publication’s objective was to provide citizens with information to hold public officials accountable and support law enforcement agencies with relevant evidence.
However, after years without a detailed public update, the newspaper wrote to the CCB on July 29, 2026, requesting information about the status of the investigations.
In the letter, Mojeed raised concerns that the public had not received clear information on whether investigations into several officials named in the documents had been concluded or meaningfully pursued.
The bureau responded in September, explaining that it was reviewing the materials under its statutory mandate. It also indicated that newspaper representatives could be invited to provide clarification but declined to disclose further details, citing the need to avoid interfering with the process.
The Pandora Papers investigation published in 2021 raised questions about Obi’s business interests during his tenure as Anambra governor. It reported that he remained a director of British company NEXT International (UK) Limited for 14 months after assuming office, potentially conflicting with Section 6 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.
The findings also alleged that some offshore holdings were not declared and that Obi operated a foreign bank account while serving as governor.
In response, Obi said he was unaware that jointly owned assets were subject to declaration requirements. He has also denied diverting public funds, an allegation that was not made in the report.
Separately, the investigation linked Oduah to four properties in London valued at £6.7 million, allegedly acquired between October 2012 and August 2013 through International Trading and Logistics Company Limited, a company registered in Seychelles. The report identified her as the firm’s ultimate beneficial owner.
