News
Leaders Steal $600Bn from Nigeria Since Independence- Report
Economist magazine has said that an estimated $600bn is believed to have been stolen from Nigeria since its Independence in 1960.
The story was published in its online edition of October 10. See excerpts.
Light-fingered tyrants are looking back wistfully. In past decades they could stash their illicit wealth in the West. Friendly lawyers, banks and middlemen were on hand to park the loot.
Sani Abacha, the military dictator who ran Nigeria in the 1990s, deposited billions of dollars in banks across the rich world, no questions asked. Western governments often seemed equally unfussed.
Such brazenness is becoming a bit harder to get away with. Anti-corruption campaigners and muckraking journalists have busied themselves trying to uncover stolen assets. Western governments, tired of seeing aid money stolen, have toughened up money-laundering and bribery laws.
Yet so much has been pilfered from Africa that tracking it all is tricky. Chatham House, a British think-tank, estimates that $582bn has been stolen from Nigeria alone since it won independence in 1960.
Britain’s International Corruption Unit says its investigations have led to the confiscation of £76m ($117m) in laundered loot since 2006. Another £791m has been frozen worldwide thanks to its work.
Yet, that barely makes a dent in the £100bn of illicit funds which Steve Goodrich at Transparency International, a watchdog, reckons enters Britain every year.
“Seizures are still the exception,” said Jason Sharman, an expert in international corruption at Cambridge University. “Dirty money still gets through most of the time.”
The best way to hide and move stolen wealth is to set up a raft of anonymous shell companies and bank accounts. The EU is trying to make this sort of thing harder by forcing member states to publish registers disclosing the beneficial owners of companies.
Britain has introduced another innovation. Unexplained Wealth Orders allow courts to order “politically exposed persons” to explain why their assets are so much larger than their salaries back home. The first was issued last year.
Yet, tough laws do not work unless everyone imposes them. “If there is a gap, then the money-launderers will find it,” says Max Heywood, Transparency International’s global advocacy co-ordinator.
Willing and effective implementation is vital. Some surprising places, such as Switzerland and Jersey, have grown more robust in this regard. But America leads the way.
The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative at the Department of Justice has seized stolen loot not just in America, but abroad. “The US is aggressive in enforcement,” says Matthew Axelrod, a former Department of Justice official now at Linklaters, a law firm. “Penalties are very high and prosecutors are insulated from political interference.”
Europe lags behind. Its law-enforcement agencies are often under-resourced. Investigators struggle when dirty money is held in several countries. Britain has spearheaded the International Anti-corruption Co-ordination Centre, created in 2017. Its head, Rupert Broad, says pooling intelligence has led to the arrest of five senior officials in four African states.
The most important thing, campaigners say, is to take steps to stop dirty money arriving in the first place. Banks are becoming better at reporting dodgy deposits. Purveyors of luxury goods are less alert. Boat dealers in the Netherlands are supposed to flag suspicious purchases. But of 40,959 suspicious-activity reports to Dutch authorities in 2015, just three came from yacht-dealers, Transparency found.
African states also complain that little of what is recovered is ever sent back. America, Britain and Switzerland have had some success. More than $1bn seized from Mr. Abacha’s bank accounts has been returned. But many African states have not helped their cause, often because thieving politicians are still in charge. When Switzerland returned $500m of Mr Abacha’s money, most of it disappeared again. The World Bank has programmes to guard against such things, but some Western states remain wary, and rightly so.
James Ibori, a former governor of Nigeria’s Delta State, served a prison sentence in Britain after admitting to plundering $79m from the public purse. His lawyers have managed to frustrate efforts to repatriate most of the funds frozen in his British bank accounts.
In August, Ifeanyi Okowa, the state’s present governor, called Mr Ibori “a true patriot” and praised him for his “uncompromising posture on…good governance
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has warned against cash transportation above $10,000 or its equivalent without declaration to the appropriate government agencies.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC
Olukoyede gave this charge in Kano at the weekend at a joint sensitisation program organised by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the EFCC to educate Nigerians on legal protocols for cash movement across Nigeria’s borders.
He cautioned Bureau De Change (BDC) operators and other business stakeholders across the country against illegal cash smuggling, urging individuals transporting cash exceeding $10,000 (or its equivalent) to declare it to the NCS, as failure to do so constitutes a criminal offence.
According to the anti-graft czar, despite existing laws, many travellers, whether businessmen, pilgrims, or tourists, still engage in illegal cash movements out of ignorance or deliberate attempts to evade financial regulations.
Under the theme, “Illegal Cash Movement Through Nigerian Airports: Consequences, Legal Frameworks, and EFCC’s Enforcement Role,” Olukoyede, who spoke through CE Ibrahim Shazali, Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, underscored the severe repercussions of non-compliance with Nigeria’s financial regulations.
“Today, we will clarify the legal requirements, reporting obligations, and consequences of non-compliance”.
“The consequences of illegal cash trafficking are grave—ranging from imprisonment and hefty fines to forfeiture of assets.
“The EFCC, in collaboration with sister agencies, remains resolute in prosecuting offenders and safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system,” he said.
“Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act declares cash transportation above $10,000 (or equivalent) without declaration illegal and Section 18 of the same Act mandates BDCs to report suspicious transactions to the NFIU (Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit).
He emphasised that illicit cash movement undermines economic stability and fuels crimes such as money laundering, terrorism financing and corruption.
Olukoyede also outlined the legal frameworks governing cash movements, including the EFCC Act (2004), the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and Central Bank of Nigeria guidelines.
“Nigeria, as a signatory to international anti-money laundering conventions, has established strict laws to regulate the movement of cash in and out of the country.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, and the EFCC Establishment Act provide clear guidelines on cash declarations and penalties for violations.”
The sensitisation program highlighted the inter-agency commitment to enforcing compliance.
Representatives from the NCS and ICPC reinforced the importance of adhering to anti-corruption laws and cross-border financial regulations.
Stakeholders, including BDC operators, were urged to uphold ethical practices and report suspicious activities.
The EFCC’s boss called for stakeholders’ support and collective vigilance against illicit financial flows in Nigeria.
“We urge all stakeholders to prioritise national interest over personal gain. Compliance is not optional; it is a legal and patriotic obligation. Together, we can curb illicit financial flows and promote economic security”, he said.
Against the backdrop of Lagos State’s proactive efforts to reform its electricity sector, the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has launched its ‘Renew Energy Nigeria’ platform, a nationwide initiative with potential synergies for the state’s ambitious energy goals.
Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, CADEF’s Executive Director, introduced the platform in Lagos, highlighting its aim to empower Nigerians with information and access to decentralized renewable energy (DER) solutions. “The launch of this platform marks a significant step towards democratizing access to information and resources within Nigeria’s burgeoning sustainable energy sector.”
The platform’s launch comes as Lagos State, under the Lagos State Electricity Law, is actively establishing a regulatory framework and attracting private sector investment. Kamaldeen Abiodun-Balogun, General Manager of the LSEB, detailed the state’s progress in creating a functional electricity market, ensuring payment security, and addressing infrastructure challenges. “This law enabled us to create policy documents and establish regulatory agencies to initiate the implementation of the Lagos electricity market,” he explained, adding that private sector involvement will be key in areas where existing Discos face performance issues.
Segun Adaju, a private sector player deeply engaged in the energy sector, lauded Lagos State’s leadership. “In all these, Lagos State is always setting the pace. Many of us in the private sector players like myself, we are also looking up to Lagos State to set the pace,” he said, also mentioning his work on the Centralized Renewable Energy Desk for the state government.
While acknowledging national-level challenges such as import restrictions and forex fluctuations as noted by Professor Ndukwe-Okafor: “The recent federal plan on restrictions on the importation of solar products and the fluctuation of forex rate have made clean energy solutions costly”, the focus on Lagos State’s progress suggests a promising local environment for DER adoption, potentially amplified by CADEF’s new platform.
The broader socio-economic context, as highlighted by Olumide Ajayi, “Over 40% of Nigerians do not have access to reliable electricity”, underscored the importance of initiatives like ‘Renew Energy Nigeria’ and the enabling policies being implemented in states like Lagos.
Professor Ndukwe-Okafor concluded with a powerful call to action. “This platform is not an isolated intervention. It is aligned with our ideal country’s national vision, the 30-30-30 initiative. Let us not build a solar future that only serves the wealthy. Let us democratize clean energy. Let us make it local, inclusive, and scalable.”
The launch of “Renew Energy Nigeria” marks a significant step towards a more sustainable and equitable energy future for Nigeria, driven by innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to empowering its citizens. The platform is now live and accessible to all Nigerians seeking reliable and clean energy alternatives
A federal high court in Abuja has granted permission to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and detain six Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) promoters over allegations of investment fraud to the tune of over one billion dollars.
Emeka Nwite, presiding judge, gave the order following an ex parte application moved by Fadila Yusuf, counsel to the EFCC.
In the application by the EFCC, the six suspects are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo and Chukwuebuka Ehirim.
The commission sought an order of the court for a warrant of arrest of the defendants.
They also prayed the court for “an order remanding the defendants in the custody of the complainant/applicant pending the conclusion of investigation of the alleged offences and possible prosecution”.
Yusuf said that the defendants are at large and a warrant of arrest is required to arrest the defendants for proper investigation and prosecution of this case.
In the affidavit in support of the motion, the EFCC said preliminary investigation into the intel revealed that the defendants “using their company ST Technologies International Limited, promoted another company Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) by making adverts and lured unsuspecting members of the public to invest crypto cryptocurrencies on the CBEX investment platform”.
The EFCC said the defendants promised an unrealistic return on investment of up to 100 percent.
“The victims were made to convert their digital assets into a stablecoin of USDT for onward deposit into the suspects’ crypto wallet,” Yusuf said.
“The victims were initially given full access to the platform to monitor their investment.
“Following the deposits valued at over $1 billion by the victims, the CBEX investment platform became inaccessible to them, and they could no longer withdraw from the investment made.
“The victims later discovered that the said scheme is a scam.
“During the course of investigation, it was discovered that the said ST Technologies International Limited, though registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it was not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for investment purposes.
“It was also discovered during the investigation that the defendants had moved out of their last known address in Lagos and Ogun states.”
The anti-graft agency said obtaining a warrant of arrest was necessary in order to place the defendants on a watch list, enabling authorities to trace and apprehend the suspects to face the charges brought against them.
Nwite granted the request for a warrant of arrest and remand, adding that the order was necessary to enable the commission to apprehend the defendants and conclude its investigation.
“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel for the applicant,” Nwite said.
“I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with exhibits thereto, along with the written address.
“I am of the view and I so hold that the application is meritorious.
“Consequently, the application is granted as prayed.”
Earlier in April, reports emerged that CBEX users could no longer withdraw their funds.
On Monday, angry investors stormed and looted the office of Smart Treasure (ST Team), an affiliate of CBEX, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The EFCC recently confirmed receiving multiple complaints about the platform.
Dele Oyewale, the commission spokesperson, assured affected investors that efforts were underway to recover their funds.
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