By Charles Uche ESQ
Incorporating and fronting companies is a convenient and effective way of concealing identity, engaging in illicit transactions and evading liabilities. In many countries, a company can be formed without disclosing the identity of the individual who ultimately controls or profits from the business, i.e., the beneficial owner. Criminals and politically exposed persons (PEPs) can assign “nominee” shareholders to be listed on official documents or can list other legal entities (other companies can be shareholders in a company) as the “owners,” thereby creating a chain of companies–often across borders–that can be difficult for investigators and law enforcement to trace and recover.

Connected Development (CODE), has over the year, through its Conflict & Fragility project, in partnership with Oxfam-in-Nigeria advocated for a robust beneficial Ownership transparency through the instrumentality of a robust legislation as an essential means for combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows, and fighting tax evasion. While many initiatives exist to maintain and disclose beneficial owners of companies in Nigeria, like the Beneficial Ownership Register launched by Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) in December 2019, none of them until the enactment of the 2020 Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) had the statutory backing for enforcement.
Documents from Panama papers on Dan Etete and Kolawole Aluko can be used as classical case studies in demonstrating how these two individuals, like many others, capitalised on the non-existent or fragile regulatory framework in Nigeria’s extractive “oil & gas” sector to launder money and evade liabilities which has cost the Nigerian government and people revenue in the billions of dollars. Till date, none of the aforementioned persons has been successfully prosecuted and convicted partly due to concealment of identities and fronting of shell companies in their transactions. Shell companies are legal entities “companies” that are non-operational and lack assets or staff. They are conveniently used by money launderers to keep their identities hidden while they engage in illicit transactions across borders and evade tax.
Dan Etete: Dan Etete, a former Petroleum Minister under Nigerias Dictator Head-of-State, Gen. Sani Abacha had in 1998, incorporated a Shell company named “Malabu Oil & Gas Limited” using a fictitious name “Kweku Amafegha”, with few other persons, while he was the ultimate and beneficial owner of the company – though his real name did not appear in any official documents. Five days after he incorporated this company, he, as Petroleum Minister, awarded this company an oil block “OPL 245”. He used this shell company to launder money across the Nigerian border and acquire luxurious assets, while escaping liabilities.

Kolawole Aluko: Kola Aluko is a businessman and oil executive. Media reports have described Aluko as a key ally to Alison-Madueke, a relationship both have previously denied. He rose to prominence around 2011 when Nigeria’s government awarded two companies he founded or owned valuable oil blocks on a no-bid basis. One of his companies, Atlantic Energy, was created the day before it inked the deals to acquire multimillion-dollar oil licenses.
In Nigeria, only a member of a Public Company (PLC) was under obligation, under the old 1990 CAMA, to disclose in writing when required, the capacity in which he holds any shares in the company; either as a beneficial owner or as a nominee of an interested person. See Sections 94-98, old CAMA.
The 2020 CAMA in section 119 has extended such obligation (to disclose the particulars of shareholding by notifying the company) to persons with significant control in all companies. Similarly, as provided in section 120 of the new CAMA, a person who is a substantial shareholder in a public company and holding (either by himself or by his nominee/proxy) shares in the company which entitle him to exercise at least five per cent (5%) of the unrestricted voting rights at any general meeting of the company, is required to disclose such holding by notifying the company within a stipulated time.
This new disclosure provisions are poised to enhance transparency and prevent asset shielding as well as combat money laundering, terrorism financing and all forms of illicit financial flows by legal entities having limited liability.
While there is no gainsaying that the above disclosure provisions would enhance transparency and accountability in the Extractive sector in Nigeria, especially in the Petroleum Industry, as many of the oil and gas companies are private limited liability companies (LTD); many of which have ‘rightly’ escaped disclosure obligations with no legal sanction – there is also an urgent need for the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which has as one of its core objectives – “to promote transparency and accountability in the administration of petroleum resources of Nigeria”.
Comments (16871)
Leave a Reply to Amber Mcclure Cancel reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
[url=http://allopurinol.site/]1 allopurinol[/url]
stromectol medicine [url=https://stromectold.com/]ivermectin purchase[/url] ivermectin 3 mg tablet dosage
%%
Look into my web site; bets – Bogazicicarrental.Com –
What i do not understood iѕ if truth be tоld hоw you’re not
rеally buy generic pepcid without a prescription lot m᧐гe weⅼl-favored tһan yoս maу be right now.
Yoᥙ are so intelligent. Ⲩoᥙ аlready қnow therefⲟre ѕignificantly
relating tο this topic, maɗе me personally imagine іt from
numerous νarious angles. Ӏts like men ɑnd women dⲟn’t seem to be fascinated until it’s ѕomething tօ accomplish with
Girl gaga! Ⲩoᥙr individual stuffs outstanding.
Ꭺt aⅼl tіmes maintain it uр!
[url=http://levothyroxine.site/]buy synthroid cheap[/url]
We’re a bunch of volunteers and starting a brand new scheme in our community.
Your site provided us with useful info to work on. You’ve performed a formidable process
and our entire community can be grateful to you.
stromectol tab 3mg [url=https://stromectold.com/]stromectol 3 mg price[/url] ivermectin uk
I would like to get across my respect for your generosity in support of those who absolutely need help on this important content. Your personal dedication to passing the solution all over had become remarkably advantageous and have continually helped people just like me to get to their targets. Your new important key points indicates a lot to me and somewhat more to my office colleagues. Thank you; from each one of us.
I precisely desired to appreciate you once more. I do not know the things I might have followed without the tips and hints shared by you about that topic. It was actually a very depressing issue in my view, however , viewing your professional way you treated it forced me to leap with contentment. Now i am grateful for this help and in addition hope that you really know what a great job you are providing instructing men and women thru your blog post. I know that you’ve never got to know any of us.
Your style is very unique compared to other people I
have read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.
How To Improve Relationships And Avoid Blunders While Social Distancing
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing
a blog article or vice-versa? My site goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and
I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an email.
I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
https://herbapproach.com/product-category/concentrates/shatter/
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I love all the points you have made.
Thank you for some other informative site.
Where else may just I get that kind of info written in such an ideal way?
I have a mission that I’m simply now running on, and I’ve been at the glance
out for such info. https://bednpart.com/scientifique-de-physiotherapie-mercier-hochelaga/
First of all I want to say wonderful blog!
I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your
head before writing. I have had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there.
I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted just trying
to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips? Appreciate it!
my page :: mattress discounters chicago
cost of ivermectin medicine [url=https://stromectold.com/]stromectol 0.5 mg[/url] ivermectin 5
stromectol 6 mg dosage [url=https://stromectold.com/]ivermectin 5 mg[/url] ivermectin cream 1
[url=http://cephalexin.xyz/]cephalexin price in india[/url]
[url=http://zestoretic.fun/]zestoretic 20 25[/url]
Hello friends my name is Bhawna Tripathi. I live in Delhi city My profession is Delhi Escorts and, I am 28 years old.I live there and work as an Escorts girl in Delhi, I am alone in my life and want to meet new and sexy people and make relationships and also do whatever I want. I hope you will like it very much. If you are interested person please visit my website-https://www.missdelhiescort.com
free Windows 7 key
My spouse ɑnd I stumbleed oѵer here from a diffеrent website and thⲟught Ι shоuld check things out.
Ι like ԝhat I see soo now i am following yоu. Look forward to finding
out about ʏour web page repeatedly.
Feel free tօ surf tо mу homepage … 바카라사이트
gas weed
This is something extraordinary. Looking forward to more meaningful content!
[url=http://prednisone.fun/]prednisone over the counter[/url]
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of house .
Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website.
Studying this information So i’m glad to exhibit that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling
I found out just what I needed. I so much certainly will make sure to don?t fail
to remember this web site and give it a glance on a continuing basis.
I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head.
The problem is something that too few folks are speaking intelligently about.
I’m very happy that I came across this during my search for something relating to this.
stromectol covid 19 [url=https://stromectolnew.com/]where to buy ivermectin pills[/url] purchase stromectol
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering problems with your site.
It seems like some of the written text in your posts are
running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know
if this is happening to them too? This might be a issue with my web browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Thank you
buy my weed
Really nice blog site and helpful site!
Online poker
Excellent site you have got here.. It’s hard to find high quality writing like yours these days.
I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
เครื่องสล็อตได้รับการออกแบบมาให้เล่นแล้วชอบใจ เมื่อคนเริ่มเล่นก็มักจะเล่นต่อไปเพราะว่าเครื่องได้รับการออกแบบมาให้สนุกรวมทั้งใช้งานง่าย สล็อตแมชชีนไม่ได้ถูกควบคุมโดยรัฐบาลเหมือนการเดิมพันแบบอื่น ซึ่งแสดงว่าไม่มีการจำกัดจำนวนเงินที่บุคคลสามารถชนะหรือแพ้สำหรับเพื่อการเล่นครั้งเดียว เครื่องสล็อตได้รับการออกแบบมาให้เล่นแล้วชอบใจ เมื่อคนเริ่มเล่นพวกเขาชอบ
%%
Feel free to surf to my web-site; gambling
addiction (Kassandra)
It’s going to bbe end of mine day, however before end I am reading this great post
to increase my knowledge.
my web site; 色情网站 [http://adoptsoft.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=lesbianbus.com]
[url=https://escitalopram.fun/]lexapro 5mg tablet cost[/url]
[url=https://cialisetabs.monster/]cheap cialis 60 mg[/url]
I didn’t know that.
That’s an awesome point
Mitch Gould hhas “retail”іn hіs DNA.
A thіrd-generation retail professional, Gould learned tһe
consumer goodѕ industry frоm hіs father and grandfather ԝhile
growing up in Neѡ York City. One of his firѕt sales jobs waѕ tаking ߋrders froim neighbors for bagels
everү weeқ.
Aѕ an adult with a career that spams m᧐гe thhan three decades,
Gould moved onn fгom bagels, cream cheese, аnd llox to represent
many of thе leading product manufacturers of consumer ցoods in America:
Igloo, Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, Remington, Chapin,
Paramount, Miracle-Gro, Native Remedies,Flora Health,
Steven Seagal’ѕ Lightning Bolt, Body Basix, and Hulk Hogan’ѕ extreme energy granules.
“Ι ѕtarted іn the lawn annd garden industry
butt expanded mү horizons еarly օn,” ѕaid Gould,
CEO ɑnd founder of Nutritional Products International Mitch Gould Products International,
а global brand management firm based iin Boca Raton, Fl.
“І ԝorked with Igloo, Sunbeam, Remington — aⅼl major brands tһat havе been leaders in tһe consume
ɡoods industry.”
Eventually, Gould segued іnto nutritional products.
“I realizaed еarly the nutritional supplements ᴡere mᥙch more than justt multivitamins,” Gould ѕaid.
“American consumers ᴡere ready to takе dietary supplpements and health ɑnd wellness products into a ԝhole new level of retail success.”
Gould solidified һis success in thee health аnd wellness industry tһrough
һiѕ partnerships ᴡith A-List celebrities ᴡho wanted to develop nutritional products and his
place in Amazon history ԝhen tһe online ecommerce retailer expanded Ƅeyond books, music, and electronics.
“Ꭰuring my career, Ӏ attended many galas and charity events ᴡherе
I mеt diffeгent celebrities, ѕuch ɑs Hulk Hogan and Chuck Liddel,” Gould saіd, adding tat he eventually partnered ѡith sеveral of tһeѕe famous entrepreneurs and developed nutritjonal
products, ѕuch aѕ Hulk Hogan’s Extreme Energy Granules.
“Ԝorking with them to cгeate neew health ɑnd weolness produccts gave me a first-hand ⅼоok into the burgeoning nutritional sector,” Gould
ѕaid. “I realized thаt staying healthy ᴡas very important t᧐ my generation. My kids
were evеn mօre focused on stayying fiit аnd healthy.”
Ꮃhen Amazon decided to add a health and wellness category, Gould ѡas aⅼready positioned to plaⅽe mߋre than 150 brands аnd even mοrе products ontgo thhe virtual shelves tһe online giant
wass adding еvеry day in the eɑrly 2000s.
“Ι met Jeff Fernandez, who was οn tһe Amazon team thast ԝаs building tһe new category from tһe ground up,”
Gould ѕaid. “I alѕo һad contacts іn the health and wellness industry, ѕuch ass Kenneth Е.
Collins, ԝһο ѡas vice president оf operations foг Muscle Foods,
օne of the largest sports nutrition dostributors іn thhe world.
Gould ѕaid this “Powerhouse Trifecta” ϲould not һave asked for a bettеr synergy ƅetween thе tһree of thеm.
“Thiss was capitalism at іts best. Amazon demanded neᴡ hіgh-quality
dietary supplements, аnd ᴡe supplied them ᴡith
more thɑn 150 brands аnd products,” he added.
Tһe “Powerhouse Trifecta” ԝorked out so well thаt Gould eventually hired
Fernandez to work for NPI, where hee is noѡ president оf the company, and Collins, ѡh᧐ iss tһe neᴡ executive vice president ᧐f NPI.
“We wotk wеll toɡether,” Gould ɑdded.
Fernandez, wһo also ᴡorked ɑs a buyer fоr Walmart,said the thrеe of them have close to
75 years of retail buying ɑnd selling experience.
“NPI clients benefit fгom ⲟur years of knowledge,” Fernandez ɑdded.
Goukd saaid product manufazcturers ɑгe unlikely to finnd
three professionals ᴡith ⲟur experience representing retailers аnd brands.
“We know whɑt brahds neeɗ to dο, and we undwrstand ᴡhаt retailers wаnt,” Gould
said.
Afteг his success wіth Amazon, Gould founded NPI ɑnd
solidified һis place iin tthe dietary supplement and
health ɑnd wellness sectors.
“Ӏt was time to concentrate оn health products,”
Gould ѕaid, adding tһat he has w᧐rked with more than 200 domestic аnd
international brands that wanted to launch new products
οr expand theіr presence in tһe largest consumer market
in the worⅼd: the Unied Stɑteѕ.
“As I visited tһe corporate headquarters оf sοme of the largest retailers іn the world, Ӏ realized tһаt
international brands ԝeren’t being represented іn American stores,”
Gould ѕaid. “I realized tһese companies, especiɑlly tһe international brands, struggled
tо gain a foothhold іn American retail
stores.”
Ꮃhen Gould surveyed tһe challenges confronting international
product manufacturers, һe visualized a solution.
“Theʏ ԝere burning thrߋugh tens of thousands of dollars tо launch thеir products,” Gould ѕaid.
“By the time they sold theiг first unit, tһey hhad eaten аwаy at their profit margin.”
Gould ѕaid tһe biggest challenge waѕ learning two new cultures: America
ɑnd Wall Street.
“Тhey diԀn’t understand the American consumers,
and theү diԀn’t know һow American businesses operated,” Gould ѕaid.
“Thatt iѕ wheree І ϲome in ԝith NPI.”
Ƭo provide the foreign companies wigh tһе business support tһey needed, Gould developoed һis lauded “Evolution oof Distribution” platform.
“І brought tⲟgether evеrything brands neеded to
launch thеiг products іn the U.S.,” hhe sаіd.
“Ӏnstead of oрening a neԝ office in America, I madе NPI tһeir headquarters іn tthe U.Տ.
Since I already had a ssles staff in place, tһey ɗidn’t һave tⲟ hire a sales team
with support staff. Insteаd, NPI did it for them.”
Gould saiɗ NPI supplied еᴠery service tһat brands
neeced to sell products іn America ѕuccessfully.
“Since many off thesе producrs needеɗ FDA approval, I hired
a food scientist ѡith more tha 10 years experience
tο streamline the approval of tһe products’ labels,” Gould ѕaid.
NPI’s import, logistics, and operations manager ᴡorked with new clients tߋo make
sure shipped samples ɗidn’t еnd up in quarantine bby
the U.S. Customs.
“Օur logistics team has decades oof experience importing neԝ products іnto
thе U.S. to ߋur warehouse and then shipping tһem tо retail buyers
and retailers,” Gould ѕaid. “NPI offers a one-stop, turnkey solution to
import, distribute, ɑnd market new products in tһe U.S.”
Tο provide all thе brands’ services, Gould founded ɑ neww company,
InHealth Media, tߋ market tһe brands tо consumers ɑnd retailers.
“I saw the companies wasting thousands of dollars oon Madison Avenue marketing campaigns
tһаt failed to deliver,” Gould ѕaid.
Instеad of outsourcing markting tօ costly agencies
οr building a marketing team fгom scratch, InHealth Media ѡorks synergistically ԝith its sister company, NPI.
“InHealth Media’ѕ marketing strategy is perfectly
aligned ѡith NPI’s retail exxpansion plans,”
Gould aԁded. “Togetһer, we import, distribute,
аnd market new products ɑcross the country byy emphasizing speed tօ market
att an affordable priϲe.”
InHealth Media recntly increased itss marketing efforts Ƅʏ adding
national ɑnd regional TV promotion to itѕ services.
“Lifestyle TV hosts are the original social media influencers,” Gould
saіd. “Our clients are getting phenomenal coverage that can reach more than 100 million TV households in America. In addition, we are giving them high-quality TV promotions.
Gould said IHM also has increased its emphasis on “earned media,” which is when journalists and bloggers offer coverage for free instead of the pay and play model that exists in many formats today.
“We have access to thousands of media professionals that we reach out to on a regular basis,” Gould said. “Because our clients have created innovative products, we have been able to get them coverage in top trade publications and general mass websites, such as HGTV, Forbes, and Vitamin Retailer.
“You cannot buy this kind of credibility, prestige, and coverage because it is not for sale,” Gould said. “Our team has developed contacts with these major news outlets, which is how they found out about our clients’ products.”
NPI works with large and small product manufacturers.
“We emphasize timeliness and affordability,” he said. “We know all the costs, so there are no surprises. When the brand sells its first product to a consumer, they have the profit margin they set as a goal months earlier.”
Gould is proud of his “Evolution of Distribution” platform.
“I developed it to help international brands succeed,” Gould said.
During the years, Gould successfully used his “Evolution of Distribution” to help new brands, such as Scitec Nutrition and Native Remedies, both of which succeeded in conquering the U.S. market..
“We saw that NPI had lots of experience in helping companies get a good foothold in the U.S. Working together, NPI has been instrumental in introducing us to various key distribution channels (including The Vitamin Shoppe),” said a Scitec Nutrition executive.
Native Remedies also benefited from NPI’s “Evolution of Distribution.”
“We are thrilled to have our products available at these top retailers,” said George Luntz, then president and co-founder of Native Remedies. “It is great to have a business partner like NPI helping to expand our market reach. We expect this to be a banner year for us.”
Gould said he is proud that these companies succeeded with NPI’s help.
“This is what NPI does,” Gould said. “We find innovative and creative health, wellness, and beauty products, and the NPI and IHM teams work together to introduce them to consumers and retailers.”
For more information, call 561-544-0719 or visit nutricompany.com.
I didn’t know that.
Chess unterscheidet. Bei Chess gewinnt der bessere Spieler nahezu zu 100%.
Beim Poker können selbst Beginner von großem träumen. Bei den besten online Poker
Anbietern sind auch Sportwetten nicht selten zu finden. Welche Casinos die besten Online Casino Bonus bieten und wie die jeweiligen Bedingungen sind, wird auf dieser Website angezeigt.
100% Bonus bis zu 300€ Hier gratis sichern! Hier ist natürlich auch die Roulette
ungerade/gerade Wette sowie die Farb-Wette vorhanden.
Sind Sie bei einem All-In-One-Anbieter angemeldet sind Sie in der glücklichen Lage, sich kein anderes
Roulette Casino mehr suchen zu müssen. Qualitätsprogramme
sind nicht einfach zu erstellen, ich habe mehr als ein Jahr für das R-Sequence-Programm gebraucht.
Es gibt Wetten die vom Erwartungswert günstiger
sind als andere. Es gibt einfache Wetten wie auf die Farbe beim Roulette.
Da es immer wieder die Gleichen Zahlen sind auf die
beim Roulette gespielt werden kann, ändert sich die Wahrscheinlichkeit für das Erreichen der Zahlen nicht.
Hierfür benötigen Trader eine professionelle Handelsplattform, die nicht nur übersichtlich gestaltet
ist, sondern auch intuitiv bedient werden kann, wie zum Beispiel
die von IQ Option. Professionelle Glücksritter kennen neben den einfachen Spielvorschriften auch die Wahrscheinlichkeiten und Quoten, mit denen ein jeweiliges Ereignis
eintritt.
ivermectin buy nz [url=https://stromectolnew.com/]ivermectin buy uk[/url] cost of stromectol
Your style is really unique compared to other folks I have read
stuff from. I appreciate you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I
will just book mark this page.
buy ivermectin for humans australia [url=https://stromectolnew.com/]ivermectin 8000[/url] stromectol tablets 3 mg
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really know what you are talking about!
Bookmarked. Please additionally discuss with my web site =).
We may have a link exchange contract between us
Feel free to visit my homepage; lucky casino games
We stumbled over here different web page and thought I might as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking at your web
page for a second time.
[url=https://cialisrtab.monster/]cialis prescription cost[/url]
After I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and
now every time a comment is added I recieve four emails with the same comment.
Perhaps there is a means you can remove me from that service?
Appreciate it!
Also visit my webpage – syed mushtaq ali trophy team
[url=http://cialisktabs.quest/]tadalafil tablets price in india[/url] [url=http://gabapentin.site/]purchase neurontin[/url] [url=http://valtrex.site/]where can you buy valtrex over the counter[/url] [url=http://doxycycline.party/]doxycycline generic price[/url] [url=http://cialisetabs.monster/]generic tadalafil 5mg[/url] [url=http://trazodone.media/]desyrel 10 mg[/url]
After looking over a number of the blog posts on your
website, I truly like your technique of writing
a blog. I book-marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future.
Please visit my website as well and tell me your opinion.