By Kasim Isa Muhammad
Within four years, politically exposed personalities (PEPs) in Nigeria have doubled their investment in the real estate sector of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to an investigation on Business Day.
The newspaper reports that the investigation is part of ‘Dubai Unlocked,’ a six-month probe of UAE’s booming and secretive property market led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) together with more than 70 media partners. Economy Post is said to be the only Nigerian firm which participated in the project.
The newspaper reported that as of 2020, 800 houses were traced to Nigerian PEPs, but four years later, the number had reached 1,600.
In terms of value, the report said as of 2020, 800 properties valued at $400 million were traced to Nigerian PEPs in UAE’s commercial capital, but it has now increased to nearly $1 billion and 1,600 properties. Quoting Dubai Land Department, the report listed Nigerians as the second highest foreign purchasers of Dubai properties after India.
“BusinessDay’s data analysis showed that aside from PEPs, top security agents, civil servants and people connected in government with their family members own 88 percent of properties ascribed to Nigerians in Dubai.”
“The locations are mostly posh areas, including Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest building; Marsa Dubai, Al Merkadh, Palm Jumeirah, Wadi Al Safa, Madinat Al Mataar, and Nad Al Shiba First, among others. “Findings showed that some Nigerian male property registrants identified as females while did females registered as the opposite sex,” the report read.
The newspaper clarified that the report is not an indictment on the names listed, as there is no evidence that the individuals acquired the properties with stolen or public funds. Below is the list:
Atiku Abubakar, a former presidential candidate, owns a three-bedroom flat estimated at $1.23 million at Palm Tower in Dubai. Atiku’s 23-year-old daughter owns a one-bedroom flat at Trade Centre Second, valued at $104,135. She also owns another two-bedroom flat at Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid estimated at $289,305.75.
Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s chief attorney and justice minister, owns an $85,846 property at Al Hebiah Third. Nasir El-Rufai, a former Kaduna Governor, owns a four-bedroom flat valued at $193,084 at Al Hebiah Third.
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the running mate to Peter Obi, Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, owns eight properties valued at $2.28 million. The properties are located in choice locations such as Burj Khalifa, Al Yelayiss, Al Barsha South Fourth, and Town Square Safi 2.
Ifeanyi Uba owns a property valued at $1.13 million. While eight properties were linked to Uchenna Uba, his wife. The values were not inserted in the files, but one property (a villa) at Wadi Al Safa 7 costs about $1.13 million, while two others are valued at $294, 516 each.
Attahiru Bafarawa owns 7 properties valued at $1.48 million, while another real estate asset, located at Palm Jumeirah and valued at $750,112, belongs to his wife.
Ahmed Makarfi, a former Kaduna governor, owns a property at Burj Khalifa valued at $822,016.
Tafa Balogun, the former Inspector-General of Police, who is now late, was linked with five properties in various locations, including Marsa Dubai. The properties cost more than $1 million. Mbu Joseph, a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), owns a property.
Ahmadu Ali, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, owns a property whose value was not stated, while one valued at $422,887 was traced to his daughter, Khadijah Nneamaka Ali.
Maina Aji Lawan, a former Borno State governor and senator, owns 11 properties.
Ashe Ahmadu Muazu, wife of a former PDP chairman, owns a property located at Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, valued at $1.16 million.
Christabel Bentu, a former special assistant to former governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, owns a property. Isa Mahmoud Nuhu, a Nigeria Customs Service (NIS) senior official, owns two properties. One property is estimated at $553,802.
Salisu Abdulllahi Yusahu, a former senior officer of the Nigerian Air Force, owns two properties.
Mohammed Sidi Sani, a former director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), owns a flat at Marsa Dubai, valued at $590,807.
Hadiza Ali Sheriff, wife of former Borno State governor, owns a Marsa Dubai property valued at $3.093 million.
Nenadi Usman, Nigeria’s former finance minister, owns a real estate asset. Bobboi Kaigama, a Labour leader and former Trade Union Congress (TUC) president, owns a property.
Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo South, owns seven properties. Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy Senate president, owns five properties.
Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State governor and current senator, owns a property.
Jeremiah Useni, former military governor of old Bendel State, owns a property. Osita Chidoka, former aviation minister, owns a real estate asset estimated at $101,793.37 at Jabal Ali First. Olisa Metuh, former PDP spokesman, owns a real estate asset.
Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria’s former head of state, owns a property at Marsa Dubai.
Hassan Ardo Tukur, a former principal secretary to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, owns a property valued at $1.025 million.
Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, owns a property at Marsa Dubai. Dan Etete, Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, owns a property.
The report lists several other high-profile individuals who own properties in Dubai, including politicians, former governors, ministers, and top security agents.
The properties are located in posh areas, including Burj Khalifa, Marsa Dubai, and Palm Jumeirah, and range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom villas.
The report notes that some Nigerian male property registrants identified as females, while females registered as the opposite sex.
The newspaper clarified that the report is not an indictment on the names listed, as there is no evidence that the individuals acquired the properties with stolen or public funds.
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