Top 10 Most Corrupt Politicians In Nigeria Of All Time

In this article we will be talking about the most corrupt politicians in Nigeria of all time. We will be counting down on the Top 10 Most Corrupt Politicians in Nigeria of all time, delving into the notorious legacies of leaders whose corrupt activities have cost the country billions. From embezzling funds to shady contracts, these politicians have built personal empires at the expense of the nation.

We all know that the major problem we have in our country is bad leadership. Instead of our leaders helping build our country, they are just concerned about filling their pockets. They live a  luxurious lifestyle and fly on private jets, send their children to fancy schools or even  send them abroad, then go for medical checkups abroad but they expect the citizens  to go to under-utilized public hospitals.

These leaders have left a legacy of corruption that continues to haunt Nigeria, with billions of dollars looted and wasted while the country struggles with poverty and underdevelopment. So therefore, after a careful study and research I present to you the top 10 most corrupt politicians in Nigeria of all time.

10. Babatunde Fashola

Background: Babatunde Fashola, a Nigerian politician and lawyer, served as the Governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015. He is currently the Federal Minister of Works and Housing. Fashola, who was regarded as a “poster boy” for Lagos’s transformation, was one of the key political protégés of Bola Tinubu.

Corruption Allegations: Fashola’s financial misconduct became glaring during his tenure as governor, where he reportedly mismanaged public funds for personal and frivolous projects. In one case, he spent ₦139 million on digging just two boreholes at the state secretariat, while another ₦640 million was awarded for a car park renovation at his official residence. The most outrageous expenditure was on a ₦78 million upgrade for his official website, a project many considered a blatant abuse of public funds. By the end of his tenure, he left Lagos with a debt burden of over $2.1 billion, and it’s estimated he personally enriched himself by $900 million through inflated contracts and kickbacks.

9. Nasir El Rufai

Background: Nasir El Rufai, the Governor of Kaduna State and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), started his career as a civil servant before rising to prominence. Prior to becoming a minister, El Rufai had a modest lifestyle, even seeking loans to fund small business ventures. But once in power, he transformed his fortunes drastically.

Corruption Allegations: As FCT Minister, El Rufai gained a reputation for selling off public land to private individuals and corporations, often at prices far below market value. These transactions allegedly earned him billions in illegal profits. Between 2003 and 2007, he reportedly amassed over $1 billion in wealth. He was also known for controversially revoking land titles and reselling them to his associates. His tenure as Kaduna governor has also been mired in controversy, with accusations of nepotism and self-enrichment through state contracts.

8. Bukola Saraki

Background: Bukola Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State and the 13th Senate President of Nigeria, hails from one of Nigeria’s most powerful political families. His father, Olusola Saraki, was a political heavyweight, and Bukola’s rise in politics seemed almost inevitable. Saraki also has deep ties to Nigeria’s financial sector, especially through his family-owned Societe Generale Bank, which collapsed due to mismanagement.

Corruption Allegations: Saraki’s administration in Kwara State (2003–2011) was marked by numerous allegations of fraud, money laundering, and mismanagement of public funds. He was accused of funneling over $1.1 billion in public funds to prop up his family’s bank, which had collapsed in the late 1990s. He also faced multiple investigations for misappropriating state resources, and in 2019, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched probes into his assets in Lagos and Ilorin, though he was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Saraki’s financial dealings remain highly controversial, particularly his lavish lifestyle, which critics claim was funded by looted public money.

7. Sanusi Lamido

Background: Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a prominent figure in Nigerian royalty, belonging to Kano’s Dabo royal family. He is the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and was later crowned the Emir of Kano in 2014. His career has been filled with both accolades and controversy, particularly for his outspoken criticism of the Nigerian government’s financial practices.

Corruption Allegations: During his tenure as CBN Governor (2009–2014), Sanusi exposed massive financial discrepancies in Nigeria’s oil sector, accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of withholding $20 billion in oil revenue. However, his whistleblowing was clouded by his own scandals. In 2019, he was accused of embezzling N3.4 billion while serving as CBN Governor. Though his removal by President Goodluck Jonathan was politically motivated, many still believe he used his position to amass wealth, with estimates suggesting he siphoned over $1.2 billion during his time at the helm of Nigeria’s central bank.

6. TY Danjuma

Background: General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma is one of Nigeria’s most influential military figures and a key player in Nigerian politics since the 1970s. A former Chief of Army Staff, Danjuma has parlayed his military career into a successful business empire, particularly in oil and shipping.

Corruption Allegations: Danjuma’s wealth came under scrutiny for his acquisition of oil blocks in the Niger Delta during the 1970s. These oil assets, originally acquired under questionable circumstances, are now worth billions of dollars. His involvement in the oil industry has earned him vast fortunes, and critics argue that much of his wealth is the result of fraudulently obtained oil licenses, with his net worth bolstered by billions siphoned from the Nigerian economy. It’s estimated that Danjuma has amassed over $4 billion through shady deals and kickbacks.

5. Sani Abacha

Background: General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s infamous military dictator, ruled from 1993 until his death in 1998. Known for his authoritarian rule, Abacha’s regime was also one of the most corrupt in Nigeria’s history, with large sums of money stolen and stashed in foreign accounts.

Corruption Allegations: Abacha’s corruption reached legendary proportions, with over $7 billion looted from Nigeria’s coffers during his five-year rule. Even after his death, his loot continues to be repatriated from countries like the U.S. and Switzerland. As of 2024, $334 million of his illicit wealth has been returned to Nigeria. Abacha’s embezzlement is one of the largest in Nigerian history, and his name remains synonymous with grand corruption.

4. Abdulsalam Abubakar

Background: General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Nigeria’s military ruler from 1998 to 1999, was seen as a transitional figure who paved the way for democratic elections. However, his brief tenure in power was marred by allegations of grand theft.

Corruption Allegations: Abubakar was implicated in the Halliburton bribery scandal, where $37.5 million was allegedly wired to him in exchange for favorable government contracts. Despite being in power for only a year, Abubakar managed to loot over $9 billion from the Nigerian treasury. He is also accused of mismanaging funds during his time as Chief of Defense Staff, further contributing to Nigeria’s economic woes.

3. Olusegun Obasanjo

Background: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state (1976–1979) and later as its democratically elected President (1999–2007), is often portrayed as a leader who helped stabilize Nigeria during times of crisis. However, his legacy is tainted by significant allegations of corruption.

Corruption Allegations: Obasanjo is known for using his presidential office to extort businessmen to fund his presidential library. He is also accused of rigging elections and bribing lawmakers to secure political power. From 1999 to 2007, Obasanjo allegedly stole $25 billion from the Nigerian treasury, including $16.4 billion earmarked for power sector reforms that never materialized. His involvement in shady business dealings and political bribery earned him the title “grandfather of corruption.”

2. Ibrahim Babangida

Background: General Ibrahim Babangida, known as IBB, was Nigeria’s military head of state from 1985 to 1993. Babangida is infamous for his authoritarian rule and massive corruption scandals, which left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s economy and political landscape.

Corruption Allegations: Babangida is considered the most corrupt politician in Nigeria’s history, with allegations of looting over $15 billion during his reign. The most infamous scandal is the $12.4 billion oil windfall in 1990, which disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Babangida is believed to have stashed billions of dollars in offshore accounts, and he has never been held accountable for his crimes. To this day, IBB remains a shadowy figure in Nigerian politics, and his total loot is estimated to exceed $35 billion.

1. Ahmed Tinubu

Background: Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and current president of Nigeria, is one of Nigeria’s most powerful political figures. Formerly the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, Tinubu has since built an extensive political machine that continues to dominate Lagos politics.

Corruption Allegations: Tinubu’s tenure as Lagos Governor was marked by rampant corruption and financial impropriety. He has been implicated in various schemes involving tax evasion, money laundering, and the illegal diversion of public funds. In 2018, one of Tinubu’s companies was involved in a ₦100 billion fraud case, raising more questions about his financial practices. He is believed to have siphoned over $16 billion from the Lagos treasury since 1999, positioning himself as one of the richest politicians in Nigeria. Despite numerous allegations, Tinubu has avoided conviction and remains a political powerhouse with ambitions for the presidency. Since he became president of Nigeria he has spent over ₦2 trillion from Nigerian treasury causing abject poverty, hunger, starvation and high level of crimes and insecurity in Nigeria.

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