The Pandora Papers, unveiled on 3 October, is a trove of almost 12 million leaked documents shedding light on tax avoidance via secret offshore companies by some of the world’s elite. The data was obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) working in collaboration with more than 140 media organisations. An elite London solicitors’ firm serving Queen Elizabeth II throughout her reign has represented a politician accused by US prosecutors of corruption, reports The Guardian. While there’s no indication of wrongdoing or breaking the law, Farrer & Co, which boasts a long history of representing members of the royal family, finds itself in the crosshairs following the bombshell revelations laid bare by the so-called Pandora Papers. After the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published the dossier of more than 11.9 million leaked financial documents, Farrer & Co’s legal representation of Abubakar Bagudu over the years has come to light. The Nigerian politician has been accused by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) of playing an “instrumental role” in a corruption scheme that resulted in the plundering of billions of dollars from the coffers of West Africa’s most populous nation. Bagudu has consistently denied any wrongdoing. International Treasure Hunt After General Sani Abacha – Nigeria’s late military leader – died in 1998, the country’s new government accused him of having overseen a conspiracy to steal billions from Nigerian state coffers. According to corruption watchdog Transparency International, the ruler was estimated to have plundered as much as $5 billion

“I usually acknowledge Governor Obaseki because I copied something that he introduced during his first tenure and which is working three times in Lagos, education. He started EdoBEST, and he brought in Bridge (New Globe), an e-learning solution provider with tablets for basic education.”