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Claim: Social media users here, here, and here alleged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered $5 billion in cash and $700 million in gold at former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s New York residence. They also claim that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a crackdown on Nigerian politicians.
Verdict: False. We have found no evidence to support these claims either in the news.
Full Text
On Jan. 31, 2024, a Facebook user, Mazi Benjamin Madubugwu, shared a post featuring a picture of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari with the caption:
“BREAKING NEWS: $5 Billion in cash and $700 Million in Gold found in Buhari’s New York residence as FBI raids property; Trump orders clampdown on Nigerian politicians’ homes. Trump has ordered the money to be placed on hold as he doesn’t trust the current president of Nigeria, who he said is worse than Buhari.”
The post was accompanied by an image of Buhari alongside stacks of U.S. dollars.
On Feb. 5, 2025, an Instagram user, alhaji_comedy, shared the same claim. This post has also been widely circulated on WhatsApp.
When DUBAWA used the “Who posted What” app on Facebook, we discovered that several other Facebook users here, here, here, here, and here also posted it.
Given the virality of the claims, DUBAWA decided to fact-check it.
Verification
Claim 1: FBI found $5 billion in cash and $700 million in gold in Buhari’s New York residence.
Verdict: Misleading
Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and was elected president in 2015 on a platform focused on tackling corruption and insecurity. His tenure ended on May 29, 2023.
In 2015, Vanguard Newspaper reported that Buhari disclosed his assets before assuming office through his then Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu. According to the report, Buhari declared:
- N30 million in his bank account (Union Bank).
- Five houses and two mud houses in Daura.
- Two undeveloped plots of land—one in Kano and another in Port Harcourt.
- Farms, an orchard, and a ranch, including 270 cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, various birds, and economic trees.
- Several cars, two purchased from his savings, others provided by the government as a former Head of State, and some donated by well-wishers after a 2014 Boko Haram attack on his convoy.
- Shares in Berger Paints, Union Bank, and Skye Bank.
Nothing about owning a house in New York appeared in the declaration of Buhari’s assets during Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
However, on Jan. 27, 2025, a day before the viral claim surfaced, Business Day quoted Buhari during a meeting with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he stated:
“After my eight years as a civil president, I have only three houses—one in Daura and two in Kaduna. I have given one out for rent, which provides me with money for feeding.”
This statement shows no indication that Buhari owns a house in New York.
Given the scale of the alleged FBI raid, credible news organisations would have reported it widely, yet no reputable media outlet has covered the claim.
Claim 2: Did U.S. President Donald Trump order a crackdown on Nigerian politicians?
Verdict: False
Since being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed numerous executive orders, with the White House reporting over 300 directives to fulfil his campaign promises. These orders primarily focus on issues such as illegal immigration, the federal workforce, energy policies, environmental regulations, gender and diversity policies, abortion, and military affairs.
However, a review of Trump’s speeches and policy actions reveals no evidence of an executive order or directive targeting Nigerian politicians. If such a move had occurred, it would have been widely reported by credible news outlets, yet no such reports exist.
Conclusion
There is no evidence that Buhari owns property in New York or that the FBI raided such a residence. Available reports also do not show any executive order by President Trump that involves “cracking down” on Nigerian politicians.
