The Zambian nation came to a complete meltdown when the FIC (Financial Intelligence Centre) discovered a mass money laundering racket going on across the nation. Worse, the list of names involved in this illegal racket includes the names of some prominent lawyers from Zambia. And it also contains the name of the official lawyer of the Ventriglias, Sakwiba Sikota.
While corruption and illegal activities are common across this nation, the list reveals the level of criminal activities by top officials working in esteemed positions. OMM Banda has topped this list of illegal money launderers. He is a lawyer from Avik International, the noted law firm in Zambia. He has been accused of laundering money to Edgar Lungu, a notorious Zambian dictator. At the same time, Edgar has been defending himself by forcing that the money in his account is for various government contracts. Since the money involved is in millions, the intelligence center is taking no chances and probe has been started in these cases.
Among the law firms caught in these acts of illicit money laundering activities is Central Chambers, a firm whose owner is Sakwiba Sikota. The list itself is astonishing as it has many prime and notable lawyers as well as accountants working in private and public sector companies. However, Sikota’s name is not as shocking as he has been previously linked with various illicit and unlawful activities in the past. This also highlights the kind of relationship the Ventriglias keep.
The FIC has announced that it will share details of its investigation as and when any new update emerges. At the same time, it has become an urgent uphill task for the government to take actions against the guilty.
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