#PanamaPapers: Documents Counter David Mark’s Denial Of Secret Assets In Tax Havens
https://37bloggers.blogspot.com/2016/05/panamapapers-documents-counter-david.html
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 havens while 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
companies linked 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. More here