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Illegal Oil Deals : Federal Government says it has Begun Gathering Evidence on Government Officials Linked to the Alleged Looting of $69bn

Published

5 years ago

May 30, 2021

The loot reportedly accrued from illegal oil deals involving some officials of the government-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Central Bank of Nigeria during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Our correspondence on Friday exclusively reported that an American assets recovery firm, Forensic Assets Investigation and Recovery Services LLC, discovered the $69bn loot.

Findings showed that the American company, FAIR, is a specialist in anti-corruption asset recovery working independently to trace and help repatriate money stashed away in foreign bank accounts and loot converted to real estate, luxury items, yachts and the money markets.

The firm, founded by a lawyer, Gary Riebschlager, comprises investigators, forensic accountants, bankers, and cyber experts who utilise Mutual Legal Agreements and global Financial Intelligence Units, Camden Assets Recovery Inter-Agency Network, Global Focus Point Network in Asset Recovery (Interpol), and the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the World Bank.

In a January 2019 confidential memo to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel, FAIR said it could help the Federal Government recover the money if hired and compensated for its services.

Out of the loot, $9bn was reportedly traced to a Texas bank account allegedly belonging to the late National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi.

Azazi died in a helicopter crash in Okoroba, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in December 2012 alongside the Governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Yakowa, and others.

Two months after FAIR wrote the SPIP, the latter wrote a letter dated March 18, 2019 to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), on the matter, explaining FAIR’s proposal.

SPIP stated that FAIR assured that the $9bn allegedly stolen by Azazi could be recovered within three to five months.

The SPIP’s letter to the President, with reference number SPIP/SH/2019/VOL.1/1, was titled, ‘American assets investigation and recovery company has traced a definite $9bn funds linked to the late Gen Azazi.’

The letter was signed by a former SPIP Chairman, Okoi Obono-Obla.

It read in part, “In January 2019, an American assets recovery company, Forensic Assets Investigation and Recovery Services LLC, sent a confidential memo to us stating the discovery of a definite total amount of $9bn in the State of Texas linked to the late General Azazi (former NSA), plus an additional huge amount in excess of $60bn from multiple sources of illegal sales of crude oil from Nigeria into the entire United States of America.

“Mr President, the confidential memo to us prompted our agency to seriously engage the US company to determine the veracity of the information, which resulted in an official invitation to them that they may visit us to further discuss and agree on steps needed to recover and return the funds to the Nigerian government.”

Following the overwhelming evidence provided by the assets recovery company regarding the $9bn and their capacity to recover and return the fund, the SPIP explained that it decided to engage the American forensic experts on a face-to-face meeting scheduled for March 29, 2019.

The panel also attached a copy of the firm’s acceptance letter to its memo to the President and sought Buhari’s approval for the planned meeting with the American company.

The memo noted, “Mr President, we intend to work together with the Americans in order to secure the recovery of the definite $9bn within 3-5 months they stated and to engage them to see and recover the larger part of the estimated $60bn-$80bn stolen from Nigeria during the oil boom. Also, to engage the NNPC and the CBN in the overall recovery of those funds in the United States.

“Our prayers to the President are: To approve the engagement of the American company to recover the funds and assets in the US and to approve the support of the visiting American firm to integrate software technology in the CBN in order to trace fraud funds.

“To approve the presence of interface offices of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel in NNPC and the CBN. Your Excellency, the immediate recovery of the identified $9bn within the stated timeframe of 3-5 months will totally eliminate borrowing to fund the 2018 budget deficit and sustain the 2019 budget.”

However, two years after the SPIP notified the President of the loot, the Federal Government was said to have not taken concrete steps to recover the money.

Also, Obono-Obla had yet to conclude the recovery process when he was removed from the panel by the President and replaced by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata.

Over 400 criminal and graft cases retrieved from the SPIP by the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice were also found to have been abandoned.

However, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Friday told one of our correspondents that the Federal Government had swung into action with the aim of getting adequate information on the $69bn loot allegedly hidden in American banks in Texas as well as the government officials involved.

The AGF also said the relevant bank details would be traced.

Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu, who spoke on behalf of the minister, said the government was at the information-gathering stage and would work on verifiable information.

Gwandu said, “The government has swung into action to generate adequate information on the alleged $69bn, inclusive of the Nigerians involved, incidental bank details, and actionable intelligence to enable us to deal with the matter.

“The details of the alleged lawyers involved and what information is at their disposal can also be very helpful.

Gwandu said the Buhari regime had the track record of repatriating stolen funds stashed in foreign accounts, saying it was one of the “visible and indelible” successes recorded by the regime.

He said, “The Office of the Attorney General has established a historical record of acting on cogent and verifiable information that has led to the recoveries of looted assets upon valid revelations that are subjected to integrity test by the assets recovery units of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

“The integrity test of information is not media-based but a process being conducted through the laid-down official process in compliance with the extant laws.

“One of the prime and uncompromising policies of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is the fight against corruption.”

We have nothing to say now–NNPC

Meanwhile, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Department, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, told one of our correspondents that the corporation had nothing to say about the allegations.

“You know the way NNPC is run, particularly on issues like this. We don’t have anything to say about it,” he stated.

However, some officials of the NNPC who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed doubt over the authenticity of FAIR’s findings.

“What is the entire budget of the country for a company to come up with an allegation that $69bn from illegal oil deals by NNPC was traced to American accounts?” asked an official, who requested not to be named due to the nature of the matter.

The official added, “Because somebody made an allegation does not mean that it has become a fact. Proper investigations should be done.”

Besides, as of the time of filing this report, efforts to get the reactions of the CBN, Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning had yet to yield positive results.

SERAP, CACOL, SAN, lawyers call for thorough probe

However, civil rights organisations, including the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, have called on the Federal Government to conduct a thorough probe of the alleged $69bn loot in Texas banks.

He said, “The Nigerian authorities should investigate how the money got to the said accounts and hold whoever is/are responsible for it accountable so that the money does not get finally lost.”

Also, the Executive Director, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, said no stone should be left unturned in ensuring that the loot was repatriated back to the country.

“All of us should be vigilant, the media and the anti-corruption agencies, to ensure that no stone is left unturned on this matter,” he said.

Adeniran argued that the fraud happened in the first place because institutions such as the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Office of the Accountant General, and anti-corruption agencies did not perform their duties of monitoring the receipts and expenditures of oil revenue.

He said, “There are international protocols which the Attorney General ought to have commenced but has been reluctant to do.

“The Auditor-General, Accountant General, and the minister under who it happened must answer questions.”

Also, a human rights lawyer and former General Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Malachy Ugwumadu, said it was the responsibility of the government to recover stolen funds.

He said, “The government should try to avoid the pit-holes that we have all been encountering in the efforts to recover stolen funds in the past.

“Some of those pit-holes include the lengthy period of time that it takes to recover them.

“Take a look at the (Sani) Abacha loot, do you remember when Abacha ruled Nigeria?”

The lawyer advised that the issue should be tackled at the level of diplomatic engagement so that the loot would be “almost automatically” repatriated.

Meanwhile, the Convener, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Dare Ariyo-Akintoye, tackled the Buhari regime, saying it had no good reputation in dealing with foreign loot recovery firms.

He said, “Ordinarily, the Buhari administration is incapable of such recoveries, but if it can swallow its pride and seek the help of global assets recovery firms, it has a chance.”

Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, urged the government to recover the loot and use it for the benefit of Nigeria in a transparent and accountable way.

“The government should go ahead and recover the funds. It’s Nigeria’s money and it should be recovered and used for the Nigerian people. And there must be transparency and accountability in the use of the money.

“What projects is the money being used for? How is it being used? Where will it be kept first when it comes? How much is it? There must be transparency and accountability about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked if the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would investigate the graft case, the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, simply said the agency doesn’t give advance notice of its investigations.

He also declined to speak further.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission spokesperson, Mrs Azuka Ogugua, could not be reached for comment.

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Democracy Day: Tinubu Honours Heroes, Seeks Stronger Collective Action on Terrorism

Published

19 hours ago

June 12, 2026

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President honours Gens. Yar’Adua, Williams, Igbokwe, media moguls, activists, other heros
With a call on Nigerians to unite in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reflected on the nation’s 27 years of uninterrupted democracy.

He said such joint efforts had become imperative because the battle against insecurity cannot be left to the government alone.

The President listed some deserving individuals, including the late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Gen. Ishola Williams, media executives, rights crusaders and others for national honours.

In his Democracy Day broadcast this morning, the President urged citizens to avoid ethnic profiling and blame games in the face of security challenges.

He assured that the country would emerge stronger and more united after overcoming terrorism.

He said: “At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity.

“We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history.

“We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.”

The President spoke against the backdrop of recent abductions in Oyo and Borno states.

He described the incidents as a painful reminder that democracy cannot thrive without security.

Expressing optimism that the abducted children would regain their freedom, Tinubu stressed that his administration had responded decisively by declaring a security emergency and approving the recruitment of more than 50,000 police officers and thousands of military personnel.

Besides, he said the government allocated N5.41 trillion to defence and security in the 2026 Budget, describing it as the largest security vote ever.

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“Democracy without security is a mirage,” he said, noting that the allocation represents the biggest defence and security budget in Nigeria’s history.

Tinubu said the country had moved beyond conventional military training exercises with international partners to precision targeting of terrorist networks, citing the degradation of an ISWAP command centre in Arege, Borno State, as evidence of progress.

Reflecting on the democratic journey, Tinubu said the country had enjoyed its longest uninterrupted period of civilian rule, spanning 27 years since the return to democratic governance in 1999.

He noted that despite its imperfections, Nigeria’s democracy remained resilient because citizens had consistently chosen leaders through the ballot box, resolved disputes through legal institutions and ensured peaceful transitions of power.

Ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, the President urged stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and political parties to ensure peaceful and credible polls, warning that democracy suffers whenever citizens lose confidence in elections.

The Ekiti governorship election will be held on June 20, while the Osun poll is scheduled for August 15.

Tinubu challenged the National Assembly, the Judiciary, the media and civil society organisations to continue serving as guardians of democratic governance.

“Criticise me, disagree with me, but never stop believing in Nigeria,” he said.

On youths, the President urged them to see the country as their future and contribute actively to national development rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere.

He said: “Nigeria is your home and your future. Build here, code here, work here, and vote here. Every great nation was built by those who stayed to solve problems, not by those who abandoned ship.”

The President also commended members of the armed forces, police, intelligence agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community heads for their roles in promoting peace and national cohesion.

The President paid glowing tribute to Nigerians who endured imprisonment, exile, persecution and death during the struggle for democracy, describing them as heroes whose sacrifices made the current democratic dispensation possible.

He saluted the late winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, and his deceased spouse, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, alongside other democracy vanguards.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 signed an Executive Order proclaiming June 12, the date of the historic election won by Abiola but annulled by the military, as Democracy Day. It has since been observed as a public holiday.

Those listed for national recognition include Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Alfred Rewane, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Mr. Chima Ubani and Gen. Yar’Adua.

Tinubu also announced national honours for many journalists, activists, lawyers, politicians and civil society leaders who suffered persecution, detention, exile and other hardships during the struggle against military rule.

Many military officers who were persecuted during the pro-democracy struggle were also honoured.

They are Ayoka Lawani, Tunde Fagbenle, Oladele Alake, Olatunji Bello, Louis Odion, Segun Babatope, Sam Omatseye, Ademola Osinubi, Bola Bolawole, Lade Bonuola, Femi Kusa, Osa Director, Richard Akinnola, George Mbah, Niran Malaolu, Gbemiga Ogunleye, Jenkins Alumona, Muyiwa Adekeye, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Ike Okonta and Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous).

Activists on the list are Debo Adeniran, Ayo Opadokun, Ralph Obiora, Ose Osayande, Sylvester Odion-Akhaine and Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous).

Others are Osagie Obayuwana, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Titus Mann, Joe Igbokwe, Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (retd) and Femi Aborisade.

The President equally recognised many military officers, including Maj.-Gen. M.A. Garba, Brig.-Gen. Lawal Jaafaru Isa, Col. Umar Farouk Ahmed, Col. Sambo Dasuki, Col. Lawan Gwadabe, Brig. Jonathan Ndam Temlong, Col. Musa Shehu, Maj.-Gen. Chris Eze, Maj.-Gen. Harris Dzarma, Col. Isa Jibrin, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Oshanupin, Col. Olusegun Oloruntoba, Lt.-Col. Happy Kefas Bulus, Col. J. Okai, Col. Emmanuel Ndubueze, Lt.-Col. Yakubu Muazu and Brig. Yahaya Abubakar, who is the Etsu Nupe.

The President added: “Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership.

“In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.”

Tinubu said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.

According to him, the greatest tribute Nigerians can pay to the heroes is to build a nation where freedom is protected, justice is upheld, opportunities are expanded, and government remains accountable to the people.

June 12, he believes, demonstrates the possibility of a united Nigerian nation, noting that while the heroes of that struggle secured political freedom, the responsibility of the present generation is to secure economic freedom.

‘Reforms necessary’

He defended the economic reforms undertaken by his administration, arguing that they were necessary to rescue the country from severe fiscal strain and economic uncertainty.

The President said the reforms had restored stability and credibility to economic management, increased federation revenues, improved fiscal transparency and attracted fresh investments into agriculture, manufacturing, energy, technology, mining, transportation and the creative sector.

He added that domestic refining capacity had expanded significantly, enhancing energy security and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.

‘We’ll deliver on electricity supply’

On electricity, Tinubu said his administration inherited a sector plagued by inadequate generation, weak transmission infrastructure, huge distribution losses, a metering deficit exceeding four million customers and massive legacy debts.

He noted that the Electricity Act signed by his administration had empowered states to generate, transmit and distribute electricity, while the Presidential Power Sector Task Force had been mandated to tackle the metering gap and raise a N4 trillion bond to settle verified debts in the sector.

The President said the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), with support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), was extending off-grid and mini-grid electricity projects to underserved communities, educational institutions, markets and hospitals across the country.

“Electricity is a democratic dividend we owe every Nigerian. We intend to deliver it,” he said.

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Highlighting ongoing projects, the President said they were creating jobs, improving connectivity and opening new opportunities for enterprise.

He said the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) was deploying 10,000 tractors over five years, while over 1,000 small and medium enterprises had been certified for export.

He added that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent in the past year.

Despite the progress, the President acknowledged that many Nigerians continued to face economic hardship.

He assured citizens that the government remained focused on reducing inflation, increasing food production, creating jobs, improving living standards and ensuring that the benefits of economic reforms reached every household.

“We are moving from uncertainty to stability. The next phase is about accelerating growth and ensuring the benefits are felt in every home, every community and every region. We believe that democracy must be felt in the pocket,” he said.

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BREAKING: Reps Pass State Police Bill in Major Security Reform Move

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2026

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The House of Representatives has passed the state police bill, effectively making way for the decentralisation of the Nigerian policing architecture.

The resolution followed the voting by 289 lawmakers in favour of state police during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.

Recall that the House committed Thursday’s plenary to voting on the State Police Bill following the spike in killings, kidnappings, and banditry in the past few months.

The session was not without its fair share of drama, as shortly after the lawmakers settled down for the business of the day, Kaduna lawmaker, Bashir Zubairu, moved a point of order, explaining that the document on the proposed state police put together by the House Committee on Constitution Review got to the lawmakers only on Thursday afternoon.

Recognised to speak by the speaker, Zubairu said, “Mr Speaker, this document was only made available to lawmakers in the chambers, and we are yet to go through it. We cannot do justice to it because we have not gone through it.”

Zubairu, a member of the African Democratic Congress, was ruled out of order, allowing the process to proceed.

While the Speaker took members through the clauses, voices shouting “Point of Order” could be heard, but the presiding officer ignored them.

Before the voting began, Abbas announced that the electronic voting system was faulty, noting that the exercise would be conducted based on attendance.

Out of the 290 members in attendance, 289 voted in favour of state police while one voted against. The Speaker abstained from voting.

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No More Delays’ — Senate Leader Confirms State Police Bill Passage This Week

Published

3 days ago

June 10, 2026

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The National Assembly is set to pass the constitutional amendment bill establishing state police this week, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has disclosed, describing the reform as long overdue in view of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, the lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District said the National Assembly had concluded consultations with key stakeholders and was ready to fast-track the amendment process.

According to him, the amendment would be separated from the broader constitutional review exercise to ensure speedy passage and transmission to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for ratification.

“A cross-section of Nigerians has made it abundantly clear that there cannot be a better time to establish state police than now. We have reached a firm conclusion that we will pass the constitutional amendment to make provision for state police, and this will come to fruition this week,” Bamidele said.

He disclosed that consultations had involved the National Assembly leadership, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Inspector-General of Police and other critical stakeholders.

The Senate Leader also revealed that President Bola Tinubu and a majority of state governors support the proposal, expressing confidence that the required approval from two-thirds of state assemblies would be secured.

On the controversy surrounding calls for a probe into military spending amid rising insecurity, Bamidele defended the Senate’s decision to reject the motion, insisting that placing the armed forces under public scrutiny while they are actively engaged in counter-terrorism operations would be counterproductive.

He said the military was confronting an unconventional enemy and had continued to make sacrifices in the fight against terrorism despite difficult circumstances.

“We cannot put our military on trial in the middle of a war. Accountability mechanisms already exist through the Senate Committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force, which carry out oversight responsibilities,” he stated.

Bamidele argued that significant progress was being made against insurgents, adding that recent attacks by terrorists reflected desperation arising from heavy losses suffered during military operations.

The Senate Leader also dismissed claims that the 10th National Assembly had become a “rubber stamp” of the Executive, saying lawmakers had consistently engaged the Presidency behind closed doors to resolve disagreements before bills reached the floor.

According to him, constructive collaboration between the legislature and the executive should not be mistaken for weakness.

“We are not a rubber stamp Senate. We simply chose to resolve disagreements privately rather than perform them publicly,” he said.

On electoral reforms, Bamidele maintained that the Electoral Act should not be amended in the heat of political contests, stressing that any review should take place after elections and without retroactive effect.

He also reaffirmed his support for the publication of legislators’ salaries and allowances, saying greater transparency would help dispel public misconceptions about lawmakers’ earnings and benefits.

Regarding anti-kidnapping legislation, Bamidele disclosed that the proposed Anti-Terrorism Bill and measures prescribing the death penalty for convicted kidnappers remain on course and would be concluded alongside related constitutional amendments.

Reflecting on the performance of the 10th Senate, he identified the controversy surrounding the suspension of a senator and allegations of gender insensitivity as one of the institution’s lowest moments.

However, he highlighted several legislative achievements, including tax reforms, the student loan scheme, and the establishment of new federal tertiary institutions across the country.

Bamidele expressed optimism that the Senate’s reforms, particularly the state police initiative and tax legislation, would strengthen national security, deepen democratic governance and provide long-term economic benefits for Nigerians.

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