Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been listed among the world’s most corrupt individuals for 2024 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). This annual recognition identifies individuals who have significantly advanced organized crime and corruption globally.
Tinubu ranked third on the list, following former Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The top spot was claimed by Syria’s ousted leader, Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia earlier this month after years of alleged plundering of his nation’s resources.
Factors Leading to Tinubu’s Inclusion
The OCCRP cited multiple controversies in Tinubu’s past and present:
Drug-Related Allegations: His alleged involvement as a cocaine dealer in Chicago during the 1990s, which resulted in a $460,000 forfeiture to the U.S. government.
Questionable Infrastructure Projects: As Nigeria’s president, Tinubu reportedly awarded a multitrillion-naira Lagos-Calabar road project to a company run by his son, raising concerns about nepotism and mismanagement.
Certificate Forgery Allegations: Disputes over the authenticity of his educational credentials emerged shortly after his inauguration in May 2023, casting doubt on his integrity.
Public and Judicial Input
While Kenyan President William Ruto received the highest number of public votes during the nomination process, OCCRP’s panel of judges awarded the “Person of the Year” title to Assad. This decision underscores the significance of Assad’s decades-long alleged crimes in Syria.
Tinubu’s Silence
President Tinubu has yet to issue a public statement regarding his inclusion on the list. The OCCRP’s annual report aims to increase global awareness and promote accountability by spotlighting leaders involved in organized crime and corruption.
This development has sparked widespread discussion about governance and transparency in Nigeria, with critics urging Tinubu’s administration to address these allegations comprehensively.
