Within the past four years, politically exposed persons (PEPs) in Nigeria have doubled their investments in the real estate sector of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to an investigation by Business Day.
The investigation is part of ‘Dubai Unlocked,’ a six-month probe into the UAE’s booming and secretive property market, led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in collaboration with over 70 media partners.
Economy Post was the sole Nigerian firm that participated in the project.
The investigation revealed that as of 2020, 800 properties were traced to Nigerian PEPs. Four years later, that number has surged to 1,600. In terms of value, these properties were worth $400 million in 2020 but have now increased to nearly $1 billion.
Data from the Dubai Land Department indicates that Nigerians are the second-highest foreign purchasers of Dubai properties, following India.
“Business Day’s data analysis shows that aside from PEPs, top security agents, civil servants, and individuals connected to the government, along with their family members, own 88 percent of properties attributed to Nigerians in Dubai,” the report states.
These properties are located in affluent areas such as Burj Khalifa, Marsa Dubai, Al Merkadh, Palm Jumeirah, Wadi Al Safa, Madinat Al Mataar, and Nad Al Shiba First, among others.
The investigation also uncovered irregularities in property registrations, with some Nigerian male property registrants identified as females and vice versa.
The report clarified that this investigation does not serve as an indictment of the individuals listed, as there is no evidence to suggest that the properties were acquired with stolen or public funds.
Below is the list:
ATIKU ABUBAKAR
A three-bedroom flat estimated at $1.23 million at Palm Tower in Dubai.
ATIKU’S 23-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
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 four-bedroom flat valued at $193,084 at Al Hebiah Third was traced to the former Kaduna Governor.
YUSUF DATTI BABA-AHMED
Eight properties valued at $2.28 million were traced to the running mate to Peter Obi, Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections. The properties are located in choice locations such as Burj Khalifa, Al Yelayiss, Al Barsha South Fourth, and Town Square Safi 2.
IFEANYI UBA
A property valued 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
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 MARKAFI
A property at Burj Khalifa valued at $$822,016 was traced to the former Kaduna governor
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 property was traced to the former Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
AHMADU ALI
A property whose value was not stated was traced to the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, while one valued at $422,887 was traced to his daughter, Khadijah Nneamaka Ali.
MAINA AJI LAWAN
11 properties were traced to the former Borno State governor and senator.
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 one-time governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, owns a property .
ISA MAHMOUD NUHU
Two properties were traced to this Nigeria Customs Service (NIS) senior official. One property is estimated at $553,802.
SALISU ABDULLAHI YUSHAU
Two properties were traced to this former senior officer of the Nigerian Air Force.
MOHAMMED SIDI SANI
A flat at Marsa Dubai, valued at $590,807, was traced to the former director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), who was sacked in April 2023 with seven of the agency’s directors. The property is valued at $590,807.
HADIZA ALI SHERIFF
A Marsa Dubai property valued at $3.093 million was linked to wife of former Borno State governor.
NENADI USMAN
One real estate was linked to this Nigeria’s former finance minister.
BOBBOI KAIGAMA
A property was traced to this Labour leader who was Trade Union Congress (TUC) president.
JIMOH IBRAHIM
7 properties were linked to the senator representing Ondo South.
IKE EKWEREMADU
Five properties were traced to Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy Senate president, who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom.
ORJI UZOR KALU
One property was traced to the former Abia State governor who is now a senator.
JEREMIAH USENI
One property was traced to the former military governor of old Bendel State.
OSITA CHIDOKA
A real estate estimated at $101,793.37 at Jabal Ali First was traced to this former aviation minister.
OLISA METUH
Another real estate asset was linked to Olisa Metuh, former PDP spokesman.
ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR
A property at Marsa Dubai is said to be owned by Nigeria’s former head of state.
HASSAN ARDO TUKUR
A property valued at $1.025 million is reportedly owned by a former principal secretary to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
ADEYEMI IKUFORIJI
A property at Marsa Dubai was traced to this former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
DAN ETETE
Another property is said to be owned by Dan Etete (Dauzia Loya Etete), Nigeria’s former petroleum minister.