Former Senator for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has criticized the methodology used to rank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the third most corrupt and criminally entrenched leader globally in the 2024 list by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
Sani described the ranking as a plot to damage Nigeria’s international reputation.
The OCCRP, which annually gathers nominations from global citizens to spotlight corrupt figures, positioned Tinubu below Kenyan President William Ruto, who led the poll, and former Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The “Person of the Year” title went to Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian president, for his alleged role in draining his nation’s resources before seeking refuge in Russia.
Public outrage and a drive for transparency were pivotal in the OCCRP’s decision-making process. At 72, Tinubu’s inclusion in this list stems from his extensive history of allegedly entrenching systemic corruption in Nigeria. His governorship of Lagos State, from 1999 to 2007, was marked by significant personal wealth accumulation and claims of establishing influential networks for his family. Since his presidency began in May 2023, he has faced public scrutiny for awarding a colossal road project from Lagos to Calabar to his son’s company, raising alarms about nepotism and potential financial misconduct.
Further complicating Tinubu’s reputation are earlier allegations of drug trafficking in Chicago and certificate forgery, issues which have significantly contributed to his ranking by the OCCRP. Despite these damning claims, Tinubu has vehemently denied any accusations of corruption. This notoriety is underscored by Tinubu’s historical brush with corruption and crime, dating back to his time in the U.S., where he was accused of heroin trafficking and money laundering in the 1990s. U.S. court documents indicate he settled by forfeiting over $460,000 linked to these allegations, a past that has long fueled debates about his suitability for leadership.
Reacting, Sani faulted OCCRP for relying on opinions rather than objective facts to produce the list.
“Labelling the Nigerian President and other African Leaders as the most corrupt by online voting, and not by incontrovertible facts and figures is more of a political rating crafted from views, opinions and perspectives,” Sani said.
