Let us put it all out already. Premium Times is one of the most reputable News Media in Nigeria and nobody seem to be coming close if media impact on Government is considered. The company’s Exclusive Reports of happenings in Nigeria with in-depth investigations and analysis is second to none.
Below are some PremiumTimes reports that shook Nigeria and her Government.
Panama Papers
In 2016, the world was shocked at the revelations of corrupt practices in the over 11 Million Mossack Fonseca popularly known as Panama Papers.
The Panama Papers gave detail of how political big-wigs, world leaders, athletes and celebrities hid money in banks using Shell Corporations as upfront.
In Nigeria, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, David Mark, Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello, James Ibori, Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga were among those involved in the offshores assets holdings revealed by the leaks.
The Media’s exclusive reports revealed the offshore assets of these Nigerians and how they allegedly used different company names for acquiring and purchasing offshores properties.
The offshore assets are marketed to prominent personalities and politicians to avoid or evade tax duties in their home country.
An example is the case of the Niger State Governor who is said to have assets in British Virgins Island.
The newspaper unraveled how the said Governor bought a property with one of his offshore companies, Best International Holdings Limited with Reg.no 314717, registered in 1999 with the Governor and his son, Shehu Bello as Directors.
It also revealed the various dealings, meeting minutes, addresses, to further give credence to the revelations.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/panama-papers/201222-panamapapers-hidden-family-assets-nigerias-senate-president-saraki-uncovered-tax-havens.html
The Nigerian Government reacted by setting up a panel to investigate all the personalities involved in the leak.
Alison Madueke NNPC Saga
When Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, was said to be running the Ministry like a sole proprietorship, skipping meetings and lavishing tax payers money on buffet, Premium Times made an investigation and revealed how Mrs Madueke ruled the oil ministry.
Investigations revealed how she works from home; ignoring rules and protocols and disrupting official schedules of key personnel.
She was also said to be organizing a buffet whenever she holds meeting in her house with bills entirely sponsored by the NNPC which cost 10-16 Million Naira in a month.
The website found that Diezani engaged in lavish spending of taxpayer’s money and constant travels with personal aide were also reported.
In 2015, the ex-Minister was arrested by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA), for money laundering and bribery.
This led to speculations that she was arrested after a meeting between President Buhari and then Prime Minister of UK, David Cameron with other world leaders but the NCA debunked it saying investigation has been on since 2013.
“The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year (2015). The International Corruption Unit investigates bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK and money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates,” it stated.
While UK started their investigation in 2013, Diezani alleged misdemeanor has been put on check by PremiumTimes since 2012.
By August, The Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC), set up a panel to investigate the ex-Minister and NNPC.
$9.3 million arms money to South Africa
During the illegal arms deal between Nigeria and South Africa, that involved Ayo Oritsejafor, the former CAN President’s private jet, Premium Times did a detailed investigation on how the money was transferred, including the persons involved.
The Newspaper was able to get the documents involved in the transaction and did refutation of the claim made by Lai Mohammed in various news websites that Asari Dokubo was in the plane.
2016 Padded Budget
When President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2016 Budget to the Senate, many wondered how the new “Budget of Change” was going to shape the economy and future of Nigeria, having been rendered broke by the past administration.
Little did the people know that the Budget have been padded and some unscrupulous and illegal allocations were included in it.
The investigations carried out by this reputable news Media revealed that the Appropriation Bill has been padded with N481Billion.
Before the news about the Budget was revealed, investigations by PremiumTimes disclosed the fraud in the Budget which includes, the State House Clinic, VP’s Multi-million naira books, N1.4Billion House Boat for officers, N140 Million for a single Bore Hole, among others.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/198208-special-report-inside-massive-fraud-buharis-2016-budget.html
Maina’s Secret Return to Government
On Friday October 20, 2017, Premium Times exclusively broke the news that Former Pension Task Force Chairman, Abdulrasheed Maina, who, as at last check, is a fugitive, has been secretly reinstated and promoted by the Government. The Paper later revealed that prior to the October 20 report, it was aware of the negotiation between the fugitive and the new government, but it waited for over 2 weeks to verify and double check, unlike the usual attitude, of rushing to press, common among its counterpart.
The report forced the Minister of Interior, the EFCC, the Attorney General of the Federation and President Muhammad Buhari, among others, to respond and act with the President disengaging Maina, the EFCC reactivating a manhunt for him and seizing a number of its properties, among others.
This revelation was perhaps the most damaging to the image of the Buhari-led government which makes repeated emphatic claims about fighting corruption.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/246791-shocking-buhari-administration-recalls-wanted-ex-pension-boss-sacked-alleged-corruption.html
This is by no means a complete account of how Premium Times uses its Investigative, Unbiased and Fair reportage for the benefit of the Nation.
Premium Times is one Media House we can largely trust and say ETN24 is proud of.
