A senior aide to the minister confirmed that over $20,000 in travel and hotel expenses came from the Aviation Ministry’s budget, not Keyamo’s personal funds.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is facing serious allegations of abuse of office, illicit diversion of public funds, and violation of immigration protocols to facilitate the secret relocation of an American woman, Zainab, her mother, and others from the U.S. to Nigeria.
Zainab, a multilingual translator of Yemeni and Congolese descent, told SaharaReporters that her relationship with Keyamo began in September 2023 at a United Nations event in New York. Within days, Keyamo reportedly offered to relocate her family to Nigeria and provide jobs.
Despite lacking valid travel documents, her mother was flown with others to Uganda on November 13, 2023, before arriving in Abuja on a private jet on December 22, allegedly bypassing immigration checks. “We landed in Abuja’s presidential wing. No immigration, no security checks,” Zainab said.
A senior aide to the minister confirmed that over $20,000 in travel and hotel expenses came from the Aviation Ministry’s budget, not Keyamo’s personal funds.
The group’s luxury stay in Uganda included $400-a-night resorts, private security, and domestic staff. Their Abuja home was also reportedly furnished with government funds.
When contacted, Keyamo denied the allegations, claiming Zainab was “my sister’s friend” who attempted to blackmail him. His sister, Ruth, also denied any misuse of public funds.
Meanwhile, immigration authorities have yet to comment on the apparent breach of protocol.
READ MORE AT SAHARA REPORTERS.
