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A fresh investigation has uncovered 284 properties in the United States worth nearly $271 million linked to 61 current and former Nigerian politically exposed persons (PEPs), their families, associates and affiliated entities.
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The investigation found that 230 of the properties, valued at about $232 million, were acquired without apparent financing, while 152 properties worth approximately $177 million were acquired while the officials concerned were in public office.
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Thirty-nine of the 61 individuals had previously been publicly accused, indicted or convicted in corruption-related cases, with the investigation tracing property interests involving the families and associates of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Abia governor Orji Kalu, former Enugu governor Chimaroke Nnamani and other former governors and senior officials.
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The investigators are urging Nigerian and United States authorities to intensify cross-border investigations and pursue freezing, seizure or recovery of assets where legally established links to corruption proceeds are found, saying the property records provide potential leads for tracing illicit wealth.
September 23, (THEWILL) – A sprawling US property network worth nearly $271 million has been linked to 61 current and former Nigerian politically exposed persons, their relatives, associates and affiliated companies, according to a new investigation that raises fresh questions about the movement of wealth out of Nigeria.
The investigation by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Data Collective (ACDC), identified 284 properties across several US states, with some of the transactions dating back to 1991.
More strikingly, the investigators said 230 of the properties, representing about 81 per cent of the total, were acquired without apparent financing, with a combined value of approximately $232 million.
The report also found that 152 properties worth about $177 million were acquired while the officials concerned were in office.
The findings are contained in a report titled Dirty Deeds: How Top Nigerian Officials Bought A Piece Of America, presented in Abuja on Tuesday by PPLAAF Director of Investigations, Sonia Tolley.
The investigation examined property records, corporate registrations, court documents and other publicly available information to establish connections between the properties and the Nigerian individuals and their networks.
It found that 39 of the 61 individuals had previously been publicly accused, indicted or convicted in corruption-related cases. Properties valued at approximately $238 million were linked to those 39 individuals.
The report said 79 properties worth about $73 million remain connected to 27 publicly accused individuals.
While the findings raise significant questions about the source and movement of funds, PPLAAF did not suggest that ownership of every property identified constituted proof of corruption. Rather, it said the records provide leads that should be subjected to further investigation by relevant authorities.
Obasanjo Family’s $9m US Property Network
One of the most prominent cases examined by the investigators involved members of the family of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. PPLAAF identified approximately $9 million worth of US properties linked to members of the former president’s immediate family.
Eleven properties acquired over 26 years were sufficiently corroborated through independent sources, while eight additional assets could not be fully corroborated, but were linked to individuals bearing the Obasanjo surname and first names corresponding with members of the family.
While the investigation found no property directly owned by the former president, the first property identified was purchased by Obasanjo’s son and daughter-in-law in 1999, the year he returned to power as Nigeria’s elected president.
However, several properties were linked to his son, Olumuyiwa George Obasanjo, and grandchildren Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and Olugbenga Obasanjo.
One property linked to Iyabo Obasanjo was reportedly purchased after her tenure as senator representing Ogun Central.
The report recalled that she had previously been publicly accused of involvement in the alleged embezzlement of public funds, prompting an EFCC investigation. The case was subsequently dismissed.
According to PPLAAF, the family connections were established through recurring addresses, mortgage information, corporate registrations, signatures and documented family relationships.
The properties were concentrated mainly in New York, with others located in Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia.
The investigators also identified US companies allegedly linked to members of the family, including Pinnacle Property Holdings LLC and other real estate holding companies.
Nigerian corporate records, according to the report, also showed that Obasanjo had served or serves as a director, trustee or shareholder in companies spanning agriculture, real estate, construction, pharmaceuticals, mining, entertainment and investment.
The Obasanjo family could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Kalu’s $20m Property Holdings
Former Abia State governor and senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, also featured prominently in the investigation.
PPLAAF said it found that Kalu and members of his family spent nearly $5 million on US properties in the 18 months following his departure from office, at a time when he was under indictment by Nigerian authorities.
Overall, the investigators identified properties across four US states linked to Kalu and his family with a combined value of more than $20 million.
The holdings included residential properties, condominium units, undeveloped agricultural land and a commercial property that previously housed a restaurant called Kalu.
Nnamani’s Property And FBI Forfeiture Battle
Former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, was linked to at least nine properties in Florida and Virginia acquired by relatives and associated companies.
The report recalled allegations by the EFCC that Nnamani and his sister, Chinero Nwaigwe, diverted government funds. US authorities subsequently pursued forfeiture proceedings involving one of the properties.
According to PPLAAF, Rock City Group LLC, part of the family’s corporate network, acquired a Florida property for $1.8 million in February 2007.
The FBI alleged that $961,184.27 had been transferred from Nigeria into accounts associated with Nnamani shortly before the purchase.
A US federal court subsequently ordered the property and funds forfeited, although the judgment was later vacated following an agreement between the FBI and Nwaigwe.
Dambazau, Ngige, Obiano Properties Traced
Former Minister of the Interior and former Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau, was linked to several properties in Massachusetts acquired by him and members of his family.
The transactions identified by PPLAAF span 2013 to 2023, including properties in Winchester and Boston.
Former Anambra State governor, Chris Ngige, was linked to a property in Silver Spring, Maryland, purchased in 2008 for $922,600.
The investigation said approximately $417,000 was financed through a mortgage.
Ngige has denied allegations against him. The report noted that separate legal proceedings relating to allegations against him remained unresolved.
Former Anambra governor, Willie Obiano, was also identified in the investigation.
Working with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Houston Chronicle, PPLAAF traced at least nine properties linked to Obiano and members of his immediate family, principally in Texas.
Six were acquired before Obiano became governor, while three were acquired during or after his tenure.
The report said four of the properties were transferred into Wilveg Investments Series LLC in December 2024.
Oduah, Ojerinde, Maina Also Linked
Former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, was also examined in the investigation, which linked her to a series of US property transactions.
PPLAAF revisited corruption allegations surrounding her tenure as aviation minister, including the controversy over the purchase of two BMW bulletproof vehicles. It also referenced the Pandora Papers investigation into properties allegedly connected to Oduah through a Seychelles-registered company.
Former JAMB and NECO registrar, Professor Lawrence Ojerinde, was linked to two Florida properties acquired by his children in 2015 and 2017 for a combined $680,000.
PPLAAF said the properties had subsequently appreciated to more than $1.2 million.
The report recalled that Nigerian prosecutors accused Ojerinde of diverting at least N5.2 billion and filed separate indictments involving members of his family and companies.
Former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, was linked to three Kentucky properties purchased between 2010 and 2011 for a combined $630,000. The properties were reportedly acquired without mortgages.
Maina was also linked to a Dubai property purchased for nearly $670,000.
He was convicted of money laundering in Nigeria in 2021 and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. Maina has disputed aspects of the allegations against him.
Dasuki, Badeh And Military Property Trail
The investigation also examined property interests linked to senior military and security officials.
Former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki was linked through his family to a horse farm in South Carolina reportedly purchased for nearly $1 million in cash in 2002.
The report said Dasuki’s wife later told US authorities that the money came from a $1 million consulting contract involving an oil company. US authorities rejected her appeal concerning an immigrant investor visa.
Dasuki was subsequently accused in Nigeria of involvement in the alleged diversion of approximately $2 billion earmarked for arms procurement. He pleaded not guilty.
PPLAAF also linked individuals associated with Dasuki to about 20 properties in California and the Washington, DC area, reportedly acquired for approximately $24 million in cash.
Former Chief of Defence Staff Alex Badeh was similarly linked to several US properties acquired during and after his tenure.
Badeh was charged by the EFCC over the alleged diversion of nearly N4 billion from Nigerian Air Force funds. He denied wrongdoing and died in 2018 before the conclusion of his trial.
Cash Purchases, Corporate Vehicles Raise Red Flags
The scale of cash purchases was one of the major issues highlighted by the investigation.
Of the 284 properties identified, PPLAAF said 230 were purchased without apparent financing, collectively worth about $232 million.
The report also identified 104 properties worth $180 million that were allegedly acquired, held or sold through US-incorporated entities apparently affiliated with Nigerian companies or the officials involved.
Another 147 properties worth $111 million were acquired in the names of officials, their spouses or legal entities registered in their names.
According to the investigators, some professionals involved in the transactions failed to adequately verify identity documents and, in some cases, accepted transactions conducted in the names of deceased individuals.
PPLAAF Seeks Nigeria-US Asset Recovery Action
PPLAAF said the investigation should prompt closer cooperation between Nigerian and US authorities, particularly in tracing the source and movement of funds used to acquire properties.
The organisation said publicly available property records, corporate registrations and court documents could provide authorities with leads for determining whether some of the assets represent proceeds of corruption or other financial crimes.
It said properties could potentially be frozen, seized or recovered where authorities establish that they represent proceeds of corruption or otherwise fall within applicable asset-recovery laws.
The call comes against the background of Nigeria’s longstanding struggle to recover assets allegedly stolen or diverted from the public purse and moved abroad. For decades, successive Nigerian administrations have pursued the recovery of assets from foreign jurisdictions, often requiring cooperation with law-enforcement and financial authorities in countries where suspected illicit wealth was invested.
PPLAAF said its findings should not be viewed as a final determination of criminal liability against all the individuals named. Rather, it said the property trail provides a body of evidence and leads that can be examined by law-enforcement agencies.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
