A new report by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre has revealed the vast scale of corruption in Nigeria, documenting 100 high-profile cases involving public officials and private individuals.
According to the compendium, allegedly stolen amounts are reported in multiple currencies: ₦1.387 trillion, $53.84 billion, and £1 million.
The report, unveiled on Tuesday by the HEDA Resource Centre in Lagos, referenced pending court cases involving former governors, ministers, senators, and other public officials accused of fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, and abuse of office.
According to the report, notable high-profile cases reviewed the compendium and found that the cases include one involving former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, who is accused of money laundering involving N4 billion in public funds.
Recall that former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, is facing trial over alleged ₦109 billion fraud.
In contrast, former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello faces ₦110 billion in fraud charges and property forfeiture worth ₦80.2 billion. Former Minister of Power and Steel Olu Agunloye is also undergoing prosecution for a $6 billion scheme tied to the Mambilla Hydroelectric Plant, while former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke faces allegations of $20 billion in fraud and property forfeiture.
Other notable cases include: Ali Bello and Daudu Sulaiman’s
₦10 billion fraud case, and Fatuyi Yemi Phillips’ ₦43.5 billion misappropriation allegations.
Prominent former governors also appear in the compendium. Former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who is a serving senator, also faces ₦7.6 billion money laundering allegations. Also, former Taraba state governor, Darius Ishaku and another former Abia state governor, Theodore Orji are linked to ₦27 billion and ₦60.85 billion fraud cases, respectively, while former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam faces allegations involving ₦3.1 billion money laundering.
The compendium also listed cases involving corporate and agency officials. Former AMCON Managing Director, Ahmed Kuru faces ₦33.8 billion in money laundering charges, while former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele is also facing corruption charges in different courts in Lagos and Abuja.
According to the report, fraud, money laundering, and embezzlement dominate high-profile financial misconduct, often accompanied by abuse of office.
It added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting 76% of these cases, while the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) handles 16%. Other agencies involved include the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA).
Analysis shows former governors account for 16 per cent of defendants, former ministers and advisers 7%, senators 1%, and other public officials 76%. Most cases (58%) are ongoing; 11% have resulted in sentencing, and 9% involve property seizures. Fraud accounts for 54% of charges, money laundering 20%, and misappropriation or mismanagement 8%.
The report said corruption increases the cost of doing business, discourages investment, and undermines economic and political decisions, contributing to underdevelopment, insurgency, forced migration, and widespread poverty.
HEDA researchers compiled the report by reviewing all available sources on 100 high-profile cases, updating the data with current information, and analysing it using IBM SPSS Version 23 to produce tables, histograms and visualisations.
Recall that Transparency International (TI) has consistently ranked Nigeria among the world’s most corrupt nations. In the 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), the country placed 150th with 24 points.
Nigeria, however, recorded a slight improvement in the CPI released in January 2024 by TI, moving five places up, to 145 out of 180 countries assessed. Apart from climbing from its previous 150th position, the country also gained one point, scoring 25 out of a possible 100 in the 2023 CPI results.
