REAL estate experts in Dubai have put the value of seven Dubai properties linked to former Governor of Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, at $8.042 million, which equivalent to today’s N11.932 billion (N1,483.62/$ at the official FMDQ market).
Sokoto is Nigeria’s most multidimensionally poor state, with a poverty rate of 91 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
This investigation came to light as part of a project named “Dubai Unlocked,” which is a six-month investigation into the UAE’s booming and secretive property market led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) together with more than 70 media partners.
Economy Post is the only Nigerian media organisation that participated in the 2022 project, led by its Managing Editor and multiple award-winning investigative journalist and editor, Odinaka Anudu.
The investigation shows how powerful individuals, politically exposed persons and criminals acquired real estate in some of the most expensive and exclusive neighborhoods in the Middle East.
The property estimates and the general investigation are based on newly leaked property records dated from January 2022, obtained by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), a U.S. nonprofit organisation, and shared with E24, a Norwegian news outlet, and other news media.
Bafarawa’s property value
The total value of seven properties linked to Attahiru Bafarawa is estimated at $8.042 million.
A flat at a place named “The Residences” in Dubai is linked to Mr Bafarawa. The real estate, which has a property number, 6540727, is valued at $1.403 million. Another real estate with a property number, 6540559, has been valued at $1.403 million.
READ ALSO: BUSTED: Couple who scammed 27 Nigerian investors of N19bn owns choice properties in Dubai
The third real estate located at Palm Jumeirah has a total area of 203.55 square feet. Its current value has been put at $969.192.88.
Another property linked to Mr Bafarawa is also located at “The Residences” with a size estimated at 159.53 square feet. It is valued at $759,637.63.
Mr Bafarawa has another property (flat) linked to him at Palm Jumeirah valued at $759,637.63. Its porperty number was given as 6542004.
More so, yet another property linked to Mr Bafarawa is a five-bedroom flat at the second floor of Al Thanayah Fourth, which is used for commercial purposes, according to the investigation. It is described as a villa and has a total area of 573.21 square feet, with an estimated value of $1.344 million.
The 7th property is located at Al Thanayah Fourth with a total area of 559.22 square feet and an estimated value of $1.405 million.
Similarly, Attahiru Bafarawa’s wife, Jamila, also owns a property at Palm Jumirah estimated at $750,112.38.
Attahiru and corruption allegations
Mr Bafarawa, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is facing corruption allegations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is alleged to have taken arms money from former National Security Adviser, Mr Sambo Dasuki, for personal use.
On April 26, 2024, Mr Hamza Abdullahi of the EFCC, told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court how N4.6 billion from the arms deal was traced to the son of Attahiru Bafarawa, a former governor of Sokoto, The Cable reported.
READ ALSO: Flashback: How Union Bank ex-director and gang sold fake airport to Brazilian for $242m
Bafarawa alongside Sagir, his son, and Dalhatu Investment Limited, a company owned by the former Sokoto governor, have been arraigned by the EFCC. The case is still in court.
Sokoto as Nigeria’s poverty capital
Sokoto State is Nigeria’s poverty capital today. The NBS’ 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Report said the incidence of multidimensional poverty ranged from a low of 27 percent in Ondo to a high of 91 percent in Sokoto.
- “Over half of the population of Nigeria are multidimensionally poor and cook with dung, wood or charcoal, rather than cleaner energy. High deprivations are also apparent nationally in sanitation, time to healthcare, food insecurity, and housing,” the NBS said.
- Born in 1954, Mr Bafarawa was governor of Sokoto State between 1999 and 2007.
