Tinubu’s Adviser Clears Bagudu: ‘No Evidence Of Fund Misappropriation

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has stated that there is no evidence linking the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, to the misappropriation of public funds.

Bwala made the comments during an appearance on Head to Head on Al Jazeera, hosted by Mehdi Hasan, addressing questions about the Tinubu administration’s stance on corruption.

Hasan raised concerns regarding Bagudu’s appointment, citing allegations by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that connected the minister to financial crimes during the regime of the late Sani Abacha.

In 2020, the US DOJ claimed that Bagudu was part of an Abacha-controlled network that “embezzled, misappropriated and extorted billions from the government of Nigeria” in the 1990s.

Following Abacha’s death, the Nigerian government engaged Swiss lawyer Enrico Monfrini in 1999 to pursue legal action aimed at recovering assets tied to the former military ruler, his family, and associates across several countries.

At the time, assets linked to Bagudu, who was reportedly associated with the Abacha family, were frozen alongside those belonging to the late leader.

Responding to the allegations, Bwala emphasized that Bagudu’s current role in the Tinubu administration is not affected by any proven wrongdoing under Nigerian law.

“There is no evidence that Bagudu has misappropriated funds. The decision of the court in the United States does not bind the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he said.

He further clarified that actions by US authorities do not constitute proof of misconduct within Nigeria’s legal system.

“There is no evidence that the minister has misappropriated funds in the government of Nigeria,” Bwala reiterated.