Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Pastor Temitope Joshua on Tuesday said he does not own any shell company as has been reported in a section of the media in Nigeria.
The report suggested that he and his wife, Evlyn have been cited in the leaked data of a Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.
It was reported that files obtained from the leaked data suggest that TB Joshua and his wife, own Chillon Consultancy Limited, a company incorporated on June 20, 2006 at the British Virgin Island (BVI).
Both were said to own one ordinary share each, although the company, with registration number 1033675, is authorized to issue a maximum “50,000 no par value Shares of a single class.”
But a statement released on TB Joshua’s Facebook page described the report as a “malicious write-up and propaganda” against him.
Joshua described the story as “malicious” and”propaganda”, while quoting a portion of the Bible that suggested he was being victimized. But he did not explain how his name and that of his wife appeared in the document.
“I was shocked to find a report written in Premium Times claiming that the Panama Papers revealed a shell company called Chillon Consultancy Limited in the British Virgin Islands, allegedly owned by me,” Mr. Joshua wrote.
“Whoever is involved in this malicious write-up and propaganda with an obvious intent to defame my person and the ministry, remember what the Bible says in Luke 2:34 – “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many… and to be a sign that will be spoken against”.
“Do not use the Panama Papers to attack those you have been looking for an opportunity to victimise. This is to show that not everybody alleged in the media to be involved in the Panama Papers is truly involved. My own case is a good example.
“Beware of those using the Panama Papers for fraudulent purposes! This is a very big mistake the fraudsters have made. Those who read this report – take time to do your findings. It is malicious,” he said.
The pastor alleged that the PREMIUM TIMES was using the #PanamaPaper leak to victimize innocent people.
“Do not use the Panama Papers to attack those you have been looking for an opportunity to victimise. This is to show that not everybody alleged in the media to be involved in the Panama Papers is truly involved. My own case is a good example.
“Beware of those using the Panama Papers for fraudulent purposes! This is a very big mistake the fraudsters have made. Those who read this report – take time to do your findings. It is malicious.”
“I am not a businessman and have no business whatsoever. What God has given me is more than enough. I have nothing to do with the Panama Papers. As for me and my family, we shall remain in the vineyard of God,” he said.