Report Reveals Ex-Governors, Senators, Ministers Own 130 Assets in Dubai

A new report has revealed that Nigerian former governors, senators, ministers and other Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) have acquired with looted funds over 130 assets in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The report, UAE Component of the Three Countries (Nigeria, UAE and the UK) Comparative Study of Fixing Illicit Financial Flows, was commissioned by an anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), The Nation reported.

VAM News gathers that the report which was researched and compiled by Professor Gbenga Oduntan of Kent University has been submitted to the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa.

According to the report:

1. 34 Nigerian ex-governors own 71 properties

2. Seven senators own 33 properties

3. 13 federal ministers own 26 properties.

The above listed are among the over 800 traceable to Nigerians in the UAE, including top security and military officers.

However, the report did not reveal the identities of the indicted ex-governors and others. The chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraj, said the organisation has left it to the EFCC to unravel them.

He said: “We have left it to, EFCC to unravel them. It is so sad that our funds are being looted and stashed abroad. We are not even talking of assets in the UAE identified with some military officers.”

Receiving the report on Wednesday, Bawa charged Nigerians to be vigilant and play their part in checking the illicit flow of the nation’s resources out of the country.

The report also identified four major areas through which politically exposed persons loot the nation's resources.

These are:

1. Bribery and corruption

2. Proceeds from commercial tax evasions

3. Illicit activities engaged in by corporations and business ventures

4. Proceeds derived from criminal.