Nigerian Officials Linked to $271M U.S. Property Scandal

A joint investigation by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective (ACDC) uncovered that 61 current and former senior Nigerian officials, their families, and associates are linked to 284 properties in the United States, collectively valued at nearly $271 million. The findings were presented in Abuja during the report launch titled "Nigeria: Dirty Deeds — How Top Nigerian Officials Bought a Piece of America." The properties, acquired from 1991 onwards, include 152 that changed hands while the officials were still in government, worth approximately $177 million.

The report indicates that 230 of the properties, valued at around $232 million, were purchased without apparent financing. Investigators noted that some transactions involved U.S.-registered entities linked to Nigerian businesses, raising concerns about oversight in the American real estate market.

Among the individuals named are Sambo Dasuki, Abdulrasheed Maina, Orji Kalu, and others. PPLAAF Executive Director Jimmy Kande called for enhanced cooperation between Nigerian and American authorities to address these issues.