ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will chair the public presentation of a three-volume book, Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria, authored by Dr. Wahab Kunle Shittu, a security and anti-corruption expert, with the event scheduled to hold in Lagos on September 15, 2026.
The book, which examines the phenomenon of unexplained wealth and its implications for Nigeria’s economy and governance, will be presented at a ceremony expected to draw policymakers, anti-corruption advocates, legal experts, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Dr. Shittu, a lawyer and security consultant, described the book as a comprehensive examination of the legal, economic, and ethical dimensions of unexplained wealth. According to the author, the work draws on case studies, judicial decisions, and investigative reports to illustrate how illicit financial flows have undermined Nigeria’s development and fuelled corruption across all levels of government. The book also proposes a framework for strengthening asset declaration and recovery mechanisms.
In a statement announcing the event, the author said he was honoured that Obasanjo, a retired general and Nigeria’s former head of state and civilian president, had accepted the invitation to chair the presentation. The statement noted that Obasanjo’s personal commitment to anti-corruption efforts during his tenure in office made him a fitting chair for the event.
“Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria is not just a book; it is a contribution to the national conversation on corruption, accountability, and the future of our country,” the statement read. “We are grateful to His Excellency for lending his stature and experience to this important project.”
The book presentation is expected to feature a panel discussion with legal and policy experts, who will examine the challenges of recovering stolen assets, the role of financial intelligence, and the effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria. The event will also provide an opportunity to review the progress made since Nigeria’s Financial Action Task Force grey listing in February 2023 and its subsequent exit from the list in January 2026.
The presentation comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with the impact of corruption on economic development. According to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the country lost approximately $40 billion to illicit financial flows between 2010 and 2022, with proceeds of corruption, money laundering, and bribery accounting for a significant share. The issue of unexplained wealth has also been central to recent high-profile prosecutions, including the ongoing trial of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for alleged fraud and money laundering.
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to combat corruption and recover stolen assets, Dr. Shittu’s book offers a timely contribution to the discourse on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. The event on September 15 will serve as a platform to deepen the conversation and propose practical solutions to one of the country’s most persistent governance challenges.
