Secrets Revealed: Buhari Minister’s Alleged Encounter With Epstein Sparks Outrage

Newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice allege that Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okey Enelamah, met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time in office.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The files suggest that the meeting was facilitated by former Goldman Sachs partner Jide Zeitlin, who introduced Epstein to Enelamah in the context of discussions about a proposed deep seaport project in Badagry, Lagos.

According to the documents, Zeitlin engaged Epstein in conversations about the seaport development and arranged interactions between the financier and Nigerian officials, including Enelamah. Correspondence cited in the files also shows that Zeitlin considered involving Epstein’s associate, Sultan Bin Sulayem, in the project. Bin Sulayem expressed a preference for Badagry over Lekki due to its superior infrastructure.

In a June 2018 email, Bin Sulayem wrote:
“Dear Jide, Jeffrey introduced us a while ago. We are very interested in Nigeria. The two locations available are Badagry and Lekki. We prefer Badagry because the infrastructure is better.”

An earlier email, dated May 3, 2018, shows Zeitlin informing Epstein that Enelamah had visited him following President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with then-US President Donald Trump:
“Okey Enelamah, Nigeria’s trade minister, stopped by my home this evening as he was still in town after Buhari’s visit with Trump. He mentioned his discussions with you at WEF. Whenever we meet, I have some thoughts that may be helpful to you.”

The files note that the engagement occurred years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and imprisonment for molesting minors, at a time when he continued to maintain connections with influential figures despite ongoing lawsuits over sexual abuse allegations. The documents also highlight that Bill Gates severed ties with Epstein during the same period, requesting the deletion of all correspondence and Epstein’s resignation from entities linked to the Gates Foundation.

For weeks, Enelamah declined to comment on the alleged interactions. However, after being informed that the report would be published without his input, a publicist representing him stated that the former minister was not involved in Epstein’s crimes or any criminal activity.

Enelamah’s tenure as trade minister was already marked by controversy. He faced allegations of helping MTN repatriate $13 billion from Nigeria in 2016, which he denied, and was questioned by the Senate in 2019 over the alleged diversion of ₦42 billion linked to the Nigeria Special Economic Zone project. He maintained that all private investor involvement was approved by President Buhari. While senators disputed parts of his account, no wrongdoing was established.

Zeitlin, the intermediary named in the files, resigned as CEO of Tapestry in 2020 following a separate scandal involving a double identity and accusations of photographing women nude under a false name. His earlier nomination by former US President Barack Obama as US ambassador for UN management and reform had also collapsed after allegations from a former partner emerged.

Zeitlin denied criminal wrongdoing but acknowledged that his past actions led to his resignation, stating he stepped aside to avoid becoming a distraction for the company.