A former Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Muhammed Sani-Sidi, who was sacked by former President Muhammadu Buhari for corruption, has a property in Dubai valued at $590, 807, Economy Post exclusively gathered.
This investigation came to light as part of a project named “Dubai Unlocked,” which is a six-month investigation into the United Arab Emirates (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 firm which participated in the project.
It was exclusively gathered that Mr Sidi owns a real estate asset at Marsa Dubai with property number, 292881. Date of purchase of the property was not stated.
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Mr Sidi-Sani and seven of the agency’s directors were sacked by former President Buhari in 2018 for allegedly committing acts of corruption. They were were accused of stealing over N1 billion, $284,000 and £95,000.
The alleged corrupt act
A presidency official under Mr Buhari had alleged that Mr Sani-Sidi maintained 20 different accounts in various banks despite being a public servant.
The official noted that an authoritative report submitted to the presidency by agencies involved in the investigations and activities of the suspended directors had shown clear cases of corruption, abuse of office, and collusion on the part of the NEMA directors, Vanguard reported.
“This is in direct contradiction to the impressions of innocence created last week regarding the seven suspended staff of the agency by the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.
“The indicted officials indeed have genuine cases to answer; actually some of the officers have made confessional statements, while others could simply not explain the money and properties already traced to them.”
“Based on the facts contained in the Posreport, their claim of innocence cannot be substantiated and the presumed understanding they are getting from the House of Representatives is indeed a true reflection of the current state of affairs in Nigeria, where the most corrupt often seek to cover their misdeed by pointing accusing fingers at others.”
Attahiru Bafarawa’s properties
Economy Post had revealed that real estate experts in Dubai put the value of seven Dubai properties linked to former Governor of Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, Attahiru Bafarawa, 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.
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 property 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.
Bamise Ajetunmobi and wife’s properties
Economy Post had also reported that a couple who ran a Ponzi scheme in Nigeria and defrauded 27 investors of their hard-earned N18.88 billion have been discovered to own choice properties in Marina Vista Tower 2 and Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the UAE.
Though the value of the two properties was not stated, real estate experts suggest they are worth over $1 million (over N1.4 billion). The dates of purchase were also not stated.
Bamise Ajetunmobi and his wife, Elizabeth, were ordered by the Lagos High Court presided over by Justice Toyin Oyekan-Abdullahi on July 15, 2022, to pay N18.88 billion to 27 aggrieved investors who filed a fraud suit against them and their company, Imagine Global Solution Limited.
READ ALSO: BUSTED: Couple who scammed 27 Nigerian investors of N19bn owns choice properties in Dubai
Our investigation found that Bamise Samson Ajutenmobi owns at least two properties in Dubai. One of the properties is located at Marina Vista Tower 2 while the other is situated at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
The area owned by Samson Bamise Ajetunmobi at Marina Vista Tower 2 is 100.56 square feet while that of the Palm Jumeirah is 66.45 square feet.
Incidentally, the area owned by Samson Bamise Ajetunmobi at Palm Jumeira is classified as “Seven Hotel and Apartments.” This implies that it is a hotel, a real estate agent in Dubai told Economy Post.
