Contrary to reports by Forbes who said Nigeria only has 2 US dollar billionaires and contrary to Ventures-Africa which put the number at 20, former ambassador of the US to Nigeria, Ambassador Campbell (2004 - 2007) in his book titled "Nigeria - Dancing on the brink" has revealed that there are at least 115 US dollar billionaires in Nigeria (revealed to him by a top New York bank executive having intelligence on ofshore accounts and asset records). Meaning not less than 115 nigerians are worth at the very least N160bn naira in cash and assets (largely stolen). He stated this while describing the corruption in the Nigeria and the immense poverty plaguing the nation. Here are excepts of the book: (Read Page 13 for reference)

http://books.google.com/books?id=kHz3-yY162YC&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=115+billionaires+in+Nigeria+john+campbell&source=bl&ots=yHp3NioMTo&sig=e5WmetTMU5Y7Vna5aEX14LaqKTE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=-St8UqyiNu_riQLQ8oBI&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=115%20billionaires%20in%20Nigeria%20john%20campbell&f=false

Ok Mr Ambassador, let's have some names.

Chuck D.:
Ok Mr Ambassador, let's have some names.

You need names? Just Look around you dude......See Tinubu, Fashola, OBJ, IBB, Abdulsalam, GEJ, all former Governors, Bank Chiefs, Past and present NNPC bosses, Past and present Police Chiefs, Past and present militants (Asari Dokubo just built a University) etc.

You will find out that statement is even an understatement!!!

Mod this should be a frontpage topic.

Just imagine what that wealth would have done to Nigeria!

Hope this man doesn't visit nairaland, counting people like yuzedo and billyonaire?

To be sincere, they are more than what Mr Campbell said!

Tolexander: Hope this man doesn't visit nairaland, counting people like yuzedo and billyonaire?

To be sincere, they are more than what Mr Campbell said!

It was revealed "at least"

Nice One

Mr Campbellz are you a learner? I can take anything from you, but I won't have you underestimate the number of our national looters. At all! 115 is very small, must this white people cheat us all the time? Dem must give us our award o, we have nothing less than 4times that number sir!

kokoA: Mr Campbellz are you a learner? I can take anything from you, but I won't have you underestimate the number of our national looters. At all! 115 is very small, must this white people cheat us all the time? Dem must give us our award o, we have nothing less than 4times that number sir!

You are just estimating based on perception. Campbell is not guessing he is speaking based on banking intelligence. The fact you hear billions stolen everyday does not mean that everyone who has stolen money in Nigeria is a dollar billionaire. By the way these figures are both legitimate and illegitimate billionaires...so this will include Alhaji Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Alakija et al.

cramjones:

You are just estimating based on perception. Campbell is not guessing he is speaking based on banking intelligence. The fact you hear billions stolen everyday does not mean that everyone who has stolen money in Nigeria is a dollar billionaire. By the way these figures are both legitimate and illegitimate billionaires...so this will include Alhaji Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Alakija et al.

"The banking intelligence" you claimed can only capture "less-smart" looters. The smarter ones spread their loots across diverse accounts using various proxy names.

This is why we need Buhari. If he does not jail the looters, he will shoot them.

kokoA: "The banking intelligence" you claimed can only capture "less-smart" looters. The smarter ones spread their loots across diverse accounts using various proxy names.

Not true. No one keeps 1 billion dollars in one account. Even though people use proxies, there is a limit to which they can open an account with a proxy. Looters don't trust people like that even their wives. There is a limit! I still maintain the fact that you hear people are stealing money does not mean all of them are billionaires in USD. It takes a lot of stealing to steal $1 billion. For example the total deposits as of 2011 in First bank one of NIgeria's biggest banks is less than $2billion with thousands if not millions of customers. Even if the "less smart" ones as you asserted use proxies, are you telling me that a theif will have 10 proxies keeping say $100 million for him? I don't think so...no theif will take that risk, the proxies will only keep accounts not more than 7 digits. It is VERY VERY hard to COVER up being a billionaire from big banks in US and UK.

cramjones:

Not true. No one keeps 1 billion dollars in one account. Even though people use proxies, there is a limit to which they can open an account with a proxy. Looters don't trust people like that even their wives. There is a limit! I still maintain the fact that you hear people are stealing money does not mean all of them are billionaires in USD. It takes a lot of stealing to steal $1 billion. For example the total deposits as of 2011 in First bank one of NIgeria's biggest banks is less than $2billion with thousands if not millions of customers. Even if the "less smart" ones as you asserted use proxies, are you telling me that a theif will have 10 proxies keeping say $100 million for him? I don't think so...no theif will take that risk, the proxies will only keep accounts not more than 7 digits. It is VERY VERY hard to COVER up being a billionaire from big banks in US and UK.

Interesting. Then again, stashing away billions is a complex art. . . .using proxies is only one dimension. Ever heard of 'shell' corporations? 'Letter-box' companies? Numbered accounts? etc etc? My brother, money laundering is extremely sophisticated these days, and if you use the most knowledgeable and experienced money launderers, it is possible to 'hide' billions of dollars from prying eyes.

Ask shadowy characters like Gilbert Chagoury ad his crooked brothers. They are probably the best in the game. They are largely responsible for laundering Bola Tinubu's billions, not only in terms of investments in Nigeria (including Eko Hotel, as I recently found out), but also in cash stashed away in offshore accounts.

cramjones:

Not true. No one keeps 1 billion dollars in one account. Even though people use proxies, there is a limit to which they can open an account with a proxy. Looters don't trust people like that even their wives. There is a limit! I still maintain the fact that you hear people are stealing money does not mean all of them are billionaires in USD. It takes a lot of stealing to steal $1 billion. For example the total deposits as of 2011 in First bank one of NIgeria's biggest banks is less than $2billion with thousands if not millions of customers. Even if the "less smart" ones as you asserted use proxies, are you telling me that a theif will have 10 proxies keeping say $100 million for him? I don't think so...no theif will take that risk, the proxies will only keep accounts not more than 7 digits. It is VERY VERY hard to COVER up being a billionaire from big banks in US and UK.

Just a question. Do you know d meaning of offshore accounts? Stop advertising ignorance on this page and go back and read the post again.

I like this old troll