A business newspaper investigation, at the weekend, has released a list of Politically-Exposed Nigerians (PEPs) with expensive properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, (UAE).
The list was released as part of Dubai Unlocked, a six-month probe of UAEs booming and secretive property market led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, (OCCRP), together with more than 70 media partners.
Quoting Dubai Land Department, the report listed Nigerians as the second highest foreign purchasers of Dubai properties after India.
Of note, two former governors of Kaduna Ahmed Makarfi and Nasir el-Rufa’i were listed among Nigerian property owners in Dubai. While Makarfi is said to own a Burj Khalifa property valued at $822,016, el-Rufa’i reportedly owns a 4-bedroom flat, valued at $193,084 at Al-Hebiah Third.
Interestingly, one year before this investigation was done, el-Rufa’i claimed that the only house he owns anywhere in the world is in Kaduna. In an interview on a local radio station, the former governor specifically said he did not siphon the States money to Dubai.
El-Rufa’I, had at that time said, “I am happy that we constructed qualitative roads that would last for years. Not those kinds of roads they have constructed in the past, which after two years, after two rainy seasons, the roads would be bad.
We still have work to do. Our plan is that we want all roads in Kaduna to be tarred. Anyone who comes to Kaduna wouldnt see a muddy road. The people can see that we executed those projects with the loan we secured.
“We didnt siphon the money to Dubai and buy houses, or go to Jabi Road and build a mansion. We arent like such people; I became the Governor of Kaduna State with only one house located at Danja Street in Unguwan Sarki Kaduna. I have completed my tenure, Alhamdulillahthat is my only house. I dont have any other house. I didnt build a mansion. I dont even need it.
El-Rufa’i is yet to react to the allegation as of the time of filing this report.
