#PanamaPapers: ‘I’m not required to declare assets owned by my wife’s family’ – Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the Nigerian law does not mandate him to declare the assets of his wife’s family.

The Senate President on Monday, reacted to reports that he failed to declare four assets listed in a massive leak of documents showing how a Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca helped prominent global figures stash away billions of dollars in secret offshore accounts.

Speaking through Yusuph Olaniyonu, his media adviser, Saraki said its not true that he failed to declare the assets of his wife.

“The property in question forms part of Dr Saraki’s wife’s family asset. It is public knowledge that Mrs. Saraki comes from a family of independent means and wealth with numerous and varied assets acquired over decades in family estates and investments.”

“Furthermore, the law only requires a public officer to declare both his own assets and those held by his spouse and his children under 18 years of age. The law does not require a public officer to declare assets held by the spouse’s family.”

“It is not expected by the law that a public officer should declare such assets held in the spouse’s family estate. Indeed, the Code of Conduct form does not make provision for declaration of spouse’s family assets.”