Orezi Esievo, ex-Delta State House of Assembly member, linked with posh property in Dubai
A FORMER member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Barr Orezi Jane Edna Esievo, is linked with a posh property in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. The property is valued at $653,458 and is located at the Residences, Burj Khalifa.
The findings are part of ‘Dubai Unlocked,’ a six-month investigation into the UAE’s fast-growing but opaque real-estate market, led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in collaboration with more than 70 media organisations worldwide. Economy Post was the only Nigerian media organisation involved in the project.
For those who may not know, Burj Khalifa, previously known as Burj Dubai, is a megatall skyscraper in Dubai. It has been the tallest building in the world since its topping out in 2009, surpassing Taipei 101, which had held the record for a half-decade. Burj Khalifa was designed to be the centrepiece of a large-scale, mixed-use development to include 30,000 homes, 9 hotels, 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of parkland, at least 19 residential skyscrapers, the Dubai Mall, and the 12-hectare (30-acre) artificial Burj Khalifa Lake.
Ms Orezi’s property is described as a two-bedroom flat, with property number, 7421767. Her date of birth is given as April 10, 1969. This is not an indictment on Ms Orezi but is simply meant to show how much politically exposed persons in Nigeria (PEPs) are acquiring properties in Dubai. Her LinkedIn profile shows that she is currently the executive director, legal services, Enforcement & Compliance at Delta State Internal Revenue Service. She has held the contract position for 2 years and 9 months.
READ ALSO: Former NEMA boss sacked for corruption linked with posh Dubai property
Politicians, police officers acquiring Dubai properties
Economy Post earlier reported that no fewer than 300 Nigerian politicians, police officers, civil servants and other politically exposed persons (PEPs) have invested up to $2 billion (about N3 trillion) in Dubai’s property market over the past two decades.
Investigations show that wives and children of politicians, judges and senior civil servants are heavily represented among the buyers, collectively holding more than 2,000 properties in prime locations across Dubai – the most populous city in the UAE and capital of the Emirate of Dubai.
As of 2020, about 800 properties worth roughly $400 million were traced to Nigerian PEPs in Dubai. Many more have acquired new properties since then. New findings by Economy Post now put the figure at $2 billion across over 2,000 properties, reflecting a sharp rise over the past few years.
According to the Dubai Land Department, Nigerians are the second-largest foreign buyers of property in Dubai after Indians before 2020, owning over 1,824 real-estate assets. Analysis indicates that PEPs, top security officials, civil servants and their relatives account for over 80 percent of all Dubai properties linked to Nigerians.
To verify identities, Economy Post carried out extensive social-media checks and matched dates of birth contained in the records.
“Buying properties in Dubai is normal for anybody,” said a university law lecturer, Mr Odinakachukwu Okeke.
“It is not all politicians who stole public funds to acquire Dubai properties. However, there is so much money moving around the Dubai property market that is tied to corruption,” he added.
The data shows that prominent Nigerian politicians mostly own flats, villas, studios, hotel rooms, and apartments. These properties are concentrated in upscale districts such as Burj Khalifa, Marsa Dubai, Al Merkadh, Palm Jumeirah, Wadi Al Safa, Madinat Al Mataar, and Nad Al Shiba First, among others.
Personalities with Dubai properties
Former military Head of State, Mr Abdulsalami Abubakar, is linked to an apartment in Marsa Dubai, according to the investigations. The property is valued at $142,500.
READ ALSO: Abdulsalami, Atiku, El-Rufai, Fagbemi, Metuh, Bafarawa, others own $2bn properties in Dubai
Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar, is associated with a three-bedroom apartment valued at about $1.23 million at Palm Tower. His daughter, Hadiza, is associated with a one-bedroom flat in Trade Centre Second worth $104,135, and another two-bedroom apartment in Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid valued at $289,305, which is reportedly used for commercial purposes.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Mr Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), is linked to a property valued at $85,846 in Al Hebiah Third.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, owns a four-bedroom apartment in the same area, valued at $193,084.
Eight properties worth $2.28 million are linked to Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed,. The assets are located in Burj Khalifa, Al Yelayiss, Al Barsha South Fourth and Town Square Safi 2.
Seven properties worth $1.48 million are associated with former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa, while another asset in Palm Jumeirah valued at $750,112 belongs to his wife.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mr Ahmed Makarfi, owns a Burj Khalifa property valued at $822,016.
Late former police chief, Mr Tafa Balogun, is linked to five properties across Dubai, including Marsa Dubai, now worth over $1 million combined. A property was also traced to former assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu.
Three properties are linked to former PDP chairman, Mr Ahmadu Adah Ali, while one valued at $422,887 belongs to his daughter, Ms Khadijah Nneamaka Ali, among many others.
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About the Author
Odinaka Anudu
Editor and Managing Editor
Lagos, Nigeria
Odinaka Anudu is a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of journalism experience. He has won 19 journalism awards and written thousands of stories for both local and international platforms. He has worked in eight different media organisations and travelled widely in various capacities. He is an investigative journalist, a newsroom leader, mentor and lecturer.
