President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has been ranked as the third most corrupt leader globally by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). This ranking followed OCCRP’s global call for nominations to spotlight individuals advancing criminal activities and exacerbating poverty worldwide.
The OCCRP, a coalition of investigative journalists and activists, disclosed that Kenyan President William Ruto received the highest number of votes, placing him at the top of the list. Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo was ranked second, while Tinubu took the third spot. Despite the ranking, the OCCRP awarded the main “Person of the Year” title to Bashar al-Assad, the recently ousted Syrian leader now in exile in Russia.
“The judges acknowledge the importance of public interest and outrage at corruption,” the organizers stated while releasing the rankings.
According to reports by People’s Gazette, Tinubu, 72, was highlighted for perpetuating a regime of corruption in Nigeria. During his tenure as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2003, he reportedly amassed considerable wealth for himself and his family.
Since assuming office as Nigeria’s president in May 2023, Tinubu has faced allegations of awarding a multitrillion-naira road project, the Abuja-Calabar route, to a company owned by his son. This project has sparked fears of entrenched corruption in his administration.
Furthermore, Tinubu’s history as a convicted cocaine dealer in Chicago and allegations of certificate forgery shortly after his inauguration were factors considered in the OCCRP ranking.
Tinubu has consistently denied all allegations of corruption, maintaining his innocence amidst growing public and international scrutiny.