Former Nigerian Official Links to US Real Estate Scandal
A new investigation by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) has revealed that millions of dollars stolen by former Nigerian National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki were invested in American luxury properties.
Dasuki, previously indicted for misappropriating billions intended for combating Boko Haram, funneled tens of millions into lavish real estate in Los Angeles, California, and McLean, Virginia, a wealthy suburb of Washington, DC.
Tracing the Money Trail
PPLAAF analyzed thousands of property deeds, company registrations, bank records, and court documents from Nigeria and the US. The findings trace approximately $27 million from Dasuki’s office to close associates Robert and Mimie Oshodin. This sum closely aligns with their investments in American real estate. PPLAAF collaborated with The Washington Post and Nigeria’s Premium Times to publish the findings.
“Our investigation uncovers that the ongoing struggle for accountability in Nigeria is worsened when countries like the US turn a blind eye to corruption,” said Jimmy Kande, PPLAAF’s West Africa Director.
“Something has really gone wrong when those entrusted with protecting their citizens instead siphon off money for personal gain. The US can and should do better, both morally and legally.”
Dasukigate: A Legacy of Corruption
In 2012, Dasuki was appointed National Security Adviser under then-president Goodluck Jonathan. Tasked with combating Boko Haram, Dasuki instead orchestrated fraudulent defense contracts, redirecting over $2 billion from the fight against terrorism, according to Nigerian law enforcement. After President Muhammadu Buhari took office in 2015, Dasuki was fired and later arrested, marking the beginning of the “Dasukigate” scandal.
Lavish Properties Purchased With Stolen Funds
During Dasuki’s tenure, the Oshodins spent roughly $24 million on real estate, including a $9.5 million mansion in Los Angeles. PPLAAF uncovered that on the day Dasuki’s office transferred $12 million to a Nigerian account tied to the Oshodins’ furniture business, they purchased the mansion.
Court filings reveal that the Los Angeles mansion housed millions in jewelry, including a $3 million ring, as well as luxurious furnishings and antiques.
Failure to Act on Corruption Reports
Despite Nigerian authorities alerting the US Department of Justice in 2018, the Oshodins continued acquiring properties. They still own $20 million worth of real estate in Los Angeles and McLean.
“It makes me sick to realise that money meant to fight terrorism and support my compatriots who are being brutalised in northern Nigeria was and is still being diverted for the luxurious needs of a few predators,” said Lanre Suraj, from the Nigerian NGO Human and Environmental Development Agenda. “This landmark investigation should push Nigeria and the US to recover the money for the Nigerian people.”
