Peter Obi Defends Offshore Account, Says He Declared Assets And Left $150 Million In Anambra Savings
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has defended his offshore account linked to the Pandora Papers, insisting it was legally opened, properly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and fully investigated by the relevant authorities.
Speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics on Channels Television with Seun Okinbaloye in Abuja, Obi challenged any Nigerian governor to provide evidence of leaving behind even 10% of the approximately $150 million he said he saved for Anambra State at the end of his tenure.
"It's documented. There's nothing called a tax haven. I opened the account while I lived in the UK and started saving for what I call a family estate," Obi said.
Responding to allegations that he breached the Code of Conduct rules by operating offshore accounts, Obi maintained that he had complied with the law.
"It was clearly declared. The Code of Conduct said they would investigate it, and they went and saw it," he said.
The former governor also dismissed allegations of corruption, arguing that his financial record reflected prudent management of public funds.
"Seun, no thief sees what he can steal and leave it. I left $150 million. Nobody asked me to save in dollars. If you can show me somebody who saved $15 million—10% of what I saved—then let's talk," he said.
Obi lamented what he described as the country's failure to recognise integrity in public office, saying:
"Do we appreciate honest Nigerians? It's a country that has become criminalised, where even those who are honest are the ones suffering."
Addressing allegations of conflict of interest over investments in a brewery and shares in Fidelity Bank reportedly acquired with state funds, Obi denied any wrongdoing.
"I have three banks where I saved money, including Fidelity. Am I not a shareholder in Fidelity? What is the conflict?" he asked.
The Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate also criticised Nigeria's cost of governance, arguing that excessive spending on the presidential air fleet has come at the expense of critical sectors such as healthcare.
According to Obi, the presidential air fleet costs more than ₦300 billion—an amount he said exceeds the federal allocation for primary healthcare and is higher than the combined capital votes of six major teaching hospitals: University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Nsukka; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH); and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
"A complete cancer centre is about ₦5 billion, and we have fewer than 12 in a country of over 200 million people. A third of that plane money will buy 20 new cancer centres," he said.
Obi also recalled his personal approach to public spending during his time as governor, saying he used four Peugeot 406 vehicles throughout his first four-year tenure instead of purchasing new official cars.
Speaking during an interview on Sunday Politics on Channels Television with Seun Okinbaloye in Abuja, Obi challenged any Nigerian governor to provide evidence of leaving behind even 10% of the approximately $150 million he said he saved for Anambra State at the end of his tenure.
"It's documented. There's nothing called a tax haven. I opened the account while I lived in the UK and started saving for what I call a family estate," Obi said.
Responding to allegations that he breached the Code of Conduct rules by operating offshore accounts, Obi maintained that he had complied with the law.
"It was clearly declared. The Code of Conduct said they would investigate it, and they went and saw it," he said.
The former governor also dismissed allegations of corruption, arguing that his financial record reflected prudent management of public funds.
"Seun, no thief sees what he can steal and leave it. I left $150 million. Nobody asked me to save in dollars. If you can show me somebody who saved $15 million—10% of what I saved—then let's talk," he said.
Obi lamented what he described as the country's failure to recognise integrity in public office, saying:
"Do we appreciate honest Nigerians? It's a country that has become criminalised, where even those who are honest are the ones suffering."
Addressing allegations of conflict of interest over investments in a brewery and shares in Fidelity Bank reportedly acquired with state funds, Obi denied any wrongdoing.
"I have three banks where I saved money, including Fidelity. Am I not a shareholder in Fidelity? What is the conflict?" he asked.
The Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate also criticised Nigeria's cost of governance, arguing that excessive spending on the presidential air fleet has come at the expense of critical sectors such as healthcare.
According to Obi, the presidential air fleet costs more than ₦300 billion—an amount he said exceeds the federal allocation for primary healthcare and is higher than the combined capital votes of six major teaching hospitals: University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Nsukka; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH); and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
"A complete cancer centre is about ₦5 billion, and we have fewer than 12 in a country of over 200 million people. A third of that plane money will buy 20 new cancer centres," he said.
Obi also recalled his personal approach to public spending during his time as governor, saying he used four Peugeot 406 vehicles throughout his first four-year tenure instead of purchasing new official cars.
