Family of Former Official Accused of Embezzling Funds Intended to Fight Boko Haram Tried to Obtain an American Visa Through the Million Dollar Investment.
(Abuja, 24 February 2025) – A new investigation by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) reveals today that former Nigerian National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki purchased a 127-acre horse farm in South Carolina in 2002. At the time, he served as the head of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, which was charged with, among other duties, printing Nigeria’s currency. In 2015, Dasuki was indicted for misappropriating billions intended for the fight against Boko Haram, about USD 27 million of which PPLAAF traced to luxury real estate purchases in the US.
The investigation was conducted with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Initiative (OCCRP), The Post and Courier in South Carolina, and The Houston Chronicle in Texas. It shows that, in an application for an American investor visa based on their million-dollar investment in the horse farm, Dasuki’s wife told the US government that her husband obtained the funds through a lobbying contract he had as head of Nigeria’s minting operation. She told US officials that Dasuki was paid USD 1 million to lobby officials in Ghana on behalf of a Texas-headquartered oil company that sought access to an offshore oil platform, which took place during the time when Dasuki was the head of Nigeria’s Mint. In rejecting the visa application, the US government raised serious questions about the source of the funds used to purchase the property. Still, there is no indication the government took any further action concerning the farm.
The farm, which Dasuki transferred into his wife’s name, includes an equestrian centre described as having “55 stalls, 16 paddocks ranging from small to large, a quarter mile track, stadium ring equipment with jumps, 4 horses, 4 barns, and trails throughout.” It is now used as an Airbnb rental and wedding venue.
“Dasuki has continued to profit while the Nigerian people bear the brunt of the perpetual misappropriation of public funds in the country. This case is a critical test of the US and Nigerian authorities’ commitment to fighting financial crime,” said Jimmy Kande, PPLAAF’s Western Africa Director. “No one can doubt that corruption contributes to insecurity. Terrorists groups have thrived in the Sahel partly because of the diversion of funds meant for national security.”
This latest revelation follows PPLAAF’s 2024 investigation with The Washington Post and the Premium Times, which exposed how Dasuki and his associates appear to have laundered money through various luxury properties in Los Angeles and the Washington, D.C area. Notably, Nigerian officials discovered some of these properties and urged US authorities to “follow the money,” yet Dasuki’s associates still own several of them. The Dasuki family also held onto the farm during the period when Dasuki was accused of misappropriating large sums of money from Nigerian government coffers under the Dasukigate scandal, and they still own the farm as of the date of this publication.
In Nigeria, corrupt officials misappropriate public funds, which has devastating consequences. Over 30% of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line of USD 2.15 a day, with the number rising above 45% in Northern areas. This starkly contrasts the USD 1 million Dasuki paid for the horse farm and the embezzlement of as much as USD 2 billion he was previously indicted for. The funds Dasuki allegedly misappropriated could have been used to alleviate poverty and improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Instead, Dasuki allegedly enriched himself, his family, and his associates.
“It’s beyond time for US and Nigerian authorities to take this seriously. How many more properties do we need to find?” said Marie Paule Conaré, PPLAAF’s West Africa Project Officer. “This investigation sheds new light on how illicit financial flows enable individuals to acquire high-value assets in foreign jurisdictions. It underscores the urgent need for stronger international oversight and cooperation in tracking ill-gotten gains—governments must take action.”
About PPLAAF
The Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa is a non-governmental organisation established in 2017 to protect whistleblowers, advocate for them, and engage in strategic litigation when their revelations affect the general interests of African citizens.
For more information on the organisation, please visit our website at https://pplaaf.org and follow us on Facebook or X.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
In Senegal, Jimmy Kande, PPLAAF’s West Africa Director:
jimmy@pplaaf.org or +221765659218
In Nigeria, Emmanuel Shall, PPLAAF’s Nigeria Program Manager: emmanuel@pplaaf.org or +2347039605610
