society
Tinubu’s Caribbean Detour: How Nigeria’s Resources Are Funding Private Deals with the Chagoury Empire
Tinubu’s Caribbean Detour: How Nigeria’s Resources Are Funding Private Deals with the Chagoury Empire.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent trip to Saint Lucia and Saint Helena, before jetting off to Brazil, raises serious red flags about the true intent of his foreign excursions and the reckless use of Nigerian public resources for what appears to be a deeply personal, profit-driven mission. This was no ordinary diplomatic voyage. Behind the carefully staged optics of international relations lies a trail of covert dealings, shady business alliances and questionable loyalties; all pointing toward one family: the Chagourys.
At a time when Nigeria is gripped by unprecedented economic despair, runaway inflation and mass disillusionment, Tinubu’s trip to these obscure Caribbean islands (countries with little or no diplomatic or economic value to Nigeria) has ignited outrage. The big question on every concerned Nigerian’s lips is simple: Why Saint Lucia and Saint Helena, and what business does the Nigerian president have with the Chagoury family there?
The Chagoury Connection: A History of Shadows
The Chagoury name is no stranger to Nigerian politics. The Lebanese-Nigerian family, headed by Gilbert Chagoury, has long held deep roots in Nigeria’s corridors of power, with business interests spanning construction, telecommunications, real estate and oil. They were especially cozy with the late General Sani Abacha and Gilbert was once convicted in Switzerland for laundering money on Abacha’s behalf, a conviction that was later dismissed after a settlement, but not before it left a lasting stain.
So, when Bola Tinubu, a man whose personal and political wealth has always drawn suspicion, decides to “stop by” Caribbean nations where the Chagoury family has financial interests, red flags fly. According to diplomatic insiders and corroborated travel logs, the stopovers in Saint Lucia and Saint Helena were less about bilateral relations and more about consolidating private real estate deals and financial instruments tied to the Chagoury empire.
Nigeria’s Resources, Private Gain
It is alarming that a democratically elected leader would use Nigeria’s public resources (planes, staff, security details and state funds) to bolster private foreign investments. These trips were not publicized in official state bulletins, nor were they announced through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a clear breach of transparency. What is worse, no known Nigerian delegation or bilateral agreement was signed in either Saint Lucia or Saint Helena. No trade discussions, no tourism development pacts, no diaspora meetings. Nothing.
What did occur, however, were high-level meetings between President Tinubu’s inner circle and Chagoury family representatives to negotiate the expansion of their real estate projects, allegedly tied to offshore holdings where Nigerian interests may have been used as collateral.
This sort of deception is precisely what erodes public trust and deepens the legitimacy crisis Nigeria faces under Tinubu’s administration.
A Nation Bleeding While the President Shops for Property
Back home, the reality couldn’t be more tragic. Fuel prices are unaffordable, unemployment is skyrocketing, insecurity is swallowing entire communities and naira continues its freefall. Nigerians are forced to tighten their belts while the president gallivants across the globe in what appears to be a luxury real estate and business expansion tour.
Veteran journalist and public affairs analyst, Jide Olatunji, puts it bluntly:
“This is the worst form of political deceit. At a time when Nigerians are selling their household items to buy food, their president is busy striking private business deals with convicted foreign oligarchs. It is an insult to national dignity.”
Foreign Trips, No Foreign Results
Since assuming office, Tinubu has made more than a dozen international trips. From Paris to Doha, Davos to New York and now to these remote Caribbean islands, the president has spent more time abroad than many foreign ministers. Yet, there’s very little to show for it in terms of foreign direct investment, trade partnerships or international support. Every trip is heralded with pomp but ends in nothing but vague photo-ops and empty communiqués.
Even within the National Assembly, grumbles are beginning to surface. A ranking senator from the South-South region, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, lamented:
“We can’t keep watching our president turn Nigeria into a private logistics company for his global empire-building. These trips are excessive, unnecessary and expensive.”
Democracy or Kleptocracy?
This latest episode is a continuation of a disturbing trend: the personalization of governance. Bola Tinubu appears to treat state apparatus as an extension of his private estate; echoing the “Emilokan” entitlement mentality that powered his controversial election. Whether it’s installing loyalists into key institutions, bypassing due process or embarking on business-centric diplomatic charades, Tinubu is shaping Nigeria into a dangerous cocktail of crony capitalism and authoritarian kleptocracy.
Facts and Figures: The Burden on Nigerians
Cost of Presidential Trips: It is estimated that each foreign trip by the presidency costs Nigerians between ₦2.5 billion to ₦4 billion, including aircraft operations, logistics, accommodations and security.
Foreign Reserves Depletion: Nigeria’s foreign reserves dropped to $32.1 billion in June 2025, the lowest in over a decade yet the president flies to islands with no fiscal relevance to Nigeria.
National Debt: Nigeria’s public debt has crossed ₦101 trillion, with interest payments consuming over 90% of government revenue.
All this, while Tinubu entertains a billionaire family known for laundering stolen Nigerian funds during the Abacha era? The insult could not be deeper.
A Message to the Presidency: Enough!
Nigerians must not be passive. Civil society organizations, the media, opposition parties and religious leaders must demand a detailed breakdown of all Tinubu’s foreign trips/destinations, expenses, outcomes and justifications. We cannot allow a presidency that sells economic reform at home while pursuing private profit abroad.
In the words of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka:
“The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.”
Silence is no longer an option. Nigerians must demand accountability. We must ask why the presidency is more accountable to Chagoury’s bank than to the Nigerian people.
Final Word: This Is Not Governance
What Tinubu is doing is not leadership. It is exploitation. It is manipulation. It is, quite frankly, a betrayal. Nigerians deserve more than presidential charades designed to mask private transactions. They deserve leadership rooted in transparency, vision and patriotic sacrifice.
If Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes Nigeria is his personal estate, then we must remind him: Nigeria is a democracy, not a family business.
And if the Saint Lucia-Saint Helena trips were indeed innocent, let him prove it with documents, agreements and visible benefits to Nigeria.
Until then, this remains a deceptive trip cloaked in executive fraud and a disgrace to the nation and a tragedy to its people.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Alleged Manipulation of Defilement Case Sparks Call for Review of Legal Advice in Lagos
By Ifeoma Ikem
A legal controversy has emerged in Lagos following a petition seeking a review of a legal advice issued in a case involving two female teachers accused of negligence in a child injury incident at a nursery school in Ikorodu.
The petition, submitted by Crown Cannan Attorneys, urges the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to reconsider the legal advice issued on September 16, 2022, in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba and Rukayat Lawal.
Addressed to the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, the application argues that the legal advice may have been influenced by what the petition describes as a “deliberate manipulation of facts.”
According to counsel representing the defendants, the allegations stem from an incident that allegedly occurred on October 26, 2021, at Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School located in the Adamo area of Ikorodu, Lagos.
The defendants, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, 26, and Rukayat Lawal, 24, were reportedly the class teacher and assistant class teacher respectively in charge of a Nursery One class where the incident occurred.
Court documents indicate that a three-year-old pupil, identified as Victim A, was reportedly injured after another pupil allegedly pierced a pencil into her private part during school hours.
The prosecution claims the incident occurred due to the failure of the teachers to exercise adequate care and supervision over the children under their custody.
Based on this allegation, the two educators were charged with negligence under Section 252 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which addresses acts that may cause harm through lack of proper care.
The defendants were subsequently arraigned before Magistrate Court No. 2 in Ikeja on April 19, 2022, where they faced a one-count charge relating to the incident.
During the investigation conducted at the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, several civil society groups reportedly monitored the proceedings.
Among them were representatives of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and other non-governmental organizations.
These groups reportedly raised concerns about what they described as a growing tendency to weaponise allegations of child abuse in ways that could unfairly damage reputations and careers.
In its petition, the defence team argued that the case deserves a fresh review to ensure that justice is served based on verified facts rather than assumptions or public pressure.
They urged the Ministry of Justice to carefully reassess the legal advice and the circumstances surrounding the investigation to determine whether the prosecution should proceed as currently framed.
Legal observers say the outcome of the requested review could determine the next stage of the case and may also highlight broader concerns about investigative procedures and child protection cases within the justice system.
Reacting to a viral social media post by Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who claimed she might be jailed for defilement, the head teacher of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Edaolaropin Toyin, provided the school’s account of events.
According to her, the pupil identified as Victim A was enrolled in the Nursery One class on September 20, 2021, which had about 15 pupils.
She explained that on October 26, 2021, the pupil was transported home on the school bus after closing hours and handed over to her father around 4:30 p.m.
“Later that night, the pupil’s mother allegedly contacted the head teacher, claiming her daughter cried while bathing and alleged that a male classmate, Victim B, had inserted a pencil into her private part during school hours,” she said.
The school, however, rejected the allegation, maintaining that no such incident occurred while the child was in its custody.
“The following morning, the teacher visited the pupil’s home, where the father reportedly denied the mother’s account of the incident,” Toyin added.
She said the situation escalated later that day when the child’s parents arrived at the school with police officers from Imota Police Station demanding that the alleged male classmate be produced.
The head teacher further stated that the school management had supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
“Since the incident happened, the school management has never stopped supporting Tobiloba’s welfare until last year when she sent a WhatsApp message saying she was no longer interested in the court matter, claiming she had relocated to Ibadan,” she said.
She described the claims currently circulating on social media as “defamatory narratives.”
*GEN CG MUSA SUPPORT INITIATIVE MOURNS FALLEN HEROES AND URGES UNITY IN SECURITY SUPPORT
The Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa Support Initiative (GCGMSI) expresses its heartfelt condolences to His Excellency Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, Minister of Defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Grand Patron of the Initiative, and the families of the fallen heroes who courageously lost their lives in a recent attack by ISWAP in Konduga, Marte, Jakana, and Dalori in Borno State, northeast Nigeria. Among the tragic losses were three senior military commanders: Major U.I. Mairiga, Lt-Col Umar Faruq, and Lt-Col S.I. Iliyasu, who dedicated their lives to the service of our nation.
The GCGMSI implores the public to continue supporting our security agencies, emphasizing that the safety and security of our nation is a collective responsibility. Every day, our security forces pay the ultimate price to safeguard our country. We urge the public to remain supportive, pray for their success, and refrain from politicizing the security challenges we face.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Convener, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, which has been made available to the press. The statement highlights the initiative’s profound concern for the losses sustained by our security personnel and reflects on the broader security situation in Nigeria.
In his unwavering commitment to addressing the insecurity plaguing our nation, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Gwabin Musa, has consistently engaged in urgent meetings with service chiefs, reinforcing strategic plans to combat threats and enhance national security. His leadership and decisive actions demonstrate a dedication to restoring peace and stability across our regions, ensuring a safer environment for all Nigerians.
society
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
SECURITY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: BACKING OUR MINISTER OF DEFENCE GEN. CHRISTOPHER GWABIN MUSA OFR
By Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani
In these challenging times, it is essential for all Nigerians to rally behind our leaders, particularly His Excellency Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa OFR, the Minister of Defence. The security of our nation is not a matter to be taken lightly or politicized. Gen. Musa, recognized for his unwavering dedication and sacrifice, has served our country commendably throughout his life.
Following the recent reshuffle of service chiefs by President Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu GCFR, which resulted in Gen. Musa’s retirement as Chief of Defence Staff, many voiced their concerns. Yet, upon his appointment as Minister of Defence, there was a renewed sense of hope among the populace. Gen. Musa has embraced his role with an unwavering commitment, often sacrificing his rest to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.
While it is undeniable that Nigeria faces security challenges, we must approach these issues with unity rather than division. It is crucial to recognize that those who politicize our national security are often those who have not contributed positively to the success of our security agencies. Instead of spreading negativity, we should support Gen. Musa in his mission to restore peace and stability.
To achieve our collective goal of a secure Nigeria, we must provide Gen. Musa with the trust he deserves. His vision and determination, paired with our support and prayers, can pave the way to overcoming the challenges we face. It’s time for every Nigerian to put aside political differences and work together for the common good. Let us have faith in our leaders and trust in Gen. Musa’s ability to steer our nation towards safety and security.
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