Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has named Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu as the number three most corrupt leader of the year 2024.
The award comes after a global poll that sought to spotlight individuals notorious for promoting corruption and criminal activities.
According to the OCCRP, Tinubu came third in the poll, following Kenyan President William Ruto and former Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
However, the overall “Person of the Year” title was awarded to Bashar al-Assad, the recently ousted leader of Syria.
Tinubu’s alleged role in entrenching a regime of corruption in Nigeria earned him this dubious distinction. His eight-year tenure as governor of Lagos, from 1999 to 2007, was marred by allegations of corruption and amassing wealth for himself and his family.
The President’s alleged history as a cocaine dealer in Chicago and allegations of certificate forgery have also been cited as reasons for his inclusion in the OCCRP ranking.
The recent controversy surrounding the award of a multitrillion-naira road project to a company run by his son has only added to the reputation that handed the Nigerian leader the award.
