The U.S. government has raised concerns about Chief Bola Tinubu’s apparent perpetuation of the widespread corruption seen in his predecessors’ administrations. This concern stems from Tinubu’s appointment of Abubakar Bagudu to a ministerial position.
Bagudu, who has been linked to corruption allegations during his association with former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, has faced scrutiny for his alleged involvement in embezzling government funds.
Despite numerous reports implicating Bagudu in the misappropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars from the government treasury, much of which has been repatriated by various nations, Tinubu nominated him for a ministerial role without acknowledging these allegations.
Tinubu entrusted Bagudu with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, overlooking his controversial past.
The nomination of Bagudu faced no objections from the Senate, who unanimously approved his appointment.
This decision surprised many Nigerians and international allies, including the United States, who had hoped for a more rigorous scrutiny of ministerial nominees.
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“In August, President Tinubu appointed former governor Abubakar Bagudu the Minister of Budget, despite Bagudu’s widely reported history of helping then-President Sani Abacha steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the government in the 1990s,” the U.S. government stated in its 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria.
Mr Bagudu, unhindered by his ministerial post, persisted in siphoning government funds, taking steps to hinder France from returning $150 million stolen by the late Abacha unless he received a 20 percent share.
Insisting on a $30 million payout, Mr Bagudu asserted his claim to the illicit funds, a demand reluctantly met by Mr Tinubu’s administration, determined to recover the stolen assets.
This obstruction highlighted Mr Bagudu’s audacity and likely sway over the current president, who maintains his ministerial role.
Despite documented financial wrongdoing, Mr. Bagudu remains a prominent figure in Mr Tinubu’s government, eroding U.S. confidence in Tinubu’s commitment to break from past patterns.
(Peoplesgazette)
