Muhammadu Buhari

== Controversies ==

=== US$2.8 billion NNPC scandal ===
{{See also|Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation}}
During his tenure as Federal Commissioner of Petroleum and Natural Resources, US$2.8 billion allegedly went missing from the accounts of the [[Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation]] (NNPC) in [[Midland Bank|Midlands Bank]] in the United Kingdom. General Ibrahim Babangida later allegedly accused Buhari of being responsible for this fraud.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brimtime.com/2013/06/ibb-hits-buhari-harder-over-28billion.html|title=IBB Hits Buhari Harder: Over N2.8Billion Was Stolen By Buhari and Seen In His UK Bank|date=17 June 2013|website=brimtime.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119183407/http://www.brimtime.com/2013/06/ibb-hits-buhari-harder-over-28billion.html|archive-date=19 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Uko|first1=Ndaeyo|title=Romancing the Gun: The Press as Promoter of Military Rule|date=December 2003|publisher=Africa World Press|isbn=978-1-59221-189-0|page=90|quote=Buhari's Decree 4, which led to his overthrow, was seen by Nigerians as an attempt to prevent the press from digging into a scandal which he was supposed to have known something about: the mysterious disappearance of the huge sum of N2.8 billion from the NNPC while it was under his supervision.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Frynas|first1=Jedrzej Georg|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0W8-vc7AlFAC&q=nnpc+buhari+2.8+billion&pg=PA41|title=Oil in Nigeria (Politics and Economics in Africa)|date=1 April 2000|publisher=Lit Verlag|isbn=978-3-8258-3921-5|page=41|quote=This followed evidence from a US accountancy firm that some 2.8 billion Naira (roughly US $4 billion) had not been accounted for by the bank records of the NNPC. The Irikife Tribunal, which investigated the matter, even failed to summon Generals Buhari and Obsanjo who were responsible for supervising the NNPC and controlled oil sales during the period in question.|access-date=19 January 2015}}</ref>

However, in the conclusion of the [[Crude Oil]] Sales Tribunal of Inquiry headed by Justice [[Ayo Gabriel Irikefe|Ayo Irikefe]] to investigate allegations of 2.8 billion Dollars misappropriation from the NNPC account, the tribunal found no truth in the allegations even though it noticed some lapses in the NNPC accounts.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Zabadi|first1=Istifanus|last2=Sampson|first2=Isaac|date=2009|title=Modalities for Coordinating Nigeria's Anti-Corruption Strategies|url=https://www.academia.edu/415860|journal=Constructive Engagement|volume=1|issue=1|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204194406/https://www.academia.edu/415860|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Chadian military affair ===
{{further|Chadian–Nigerian War}}
In 1983, when Chadian forces invaded Nigeria in the Borno State, Buhari used the forces under his command to chase them out of the country, crossing into Chadian territory in spite of an order given by President Shagari to withdraw.<ref name="Ayoade22">{{Cite book|last=Akinsanya|first=Adeoye A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WUySAAAAQBAJ&q=buhari+1983+chad&pg=PA272|title=An Introduction to Political Science in Nigeria|publisher=John Adebunmi Ayoade|year=2013|isbn=978-0-7618-5743-3|page=272}}</ref> This 1983 Chadian military affair led to more than 100 victims and "prisoners of war".<ref name="Ayoade22" />

=== Umaru Dikko affair ===
{{Main|Dikko affair}}
[[Dikko Affair|The Umaru Dikko Affair]] was another defining moment in Buhari's military government. [[Umaru Dikko]], a former Minister of Transportation under the previous civilian administration of President Shagari who fled the country shortly after the coup, was accused of embezzling $1 billion in oil profits. With the help of an alleged former Mossad agent, the [[National Security Organization|NSO]] traced him to London, where operatives from Nigeria and Israel drugged and kidnapped him. They placed him in a plastic bag, which was subsequently hidden inside a crate labelled as "Diplomatic Baggage". The purpose of this secret operation was to ship Dikko off to Nigeria on an empty Nigerian Airways Boeing 707, to stand trial for embezzlement. The plot was foiled by British airport officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20211380|title=The foiled Nigerian kidnap plot|last=Alex|first=Last|date=12 November 2012|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124114330/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20211380|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 53 suitcases saga ===
Buhari's administration was embroiled in a scandal concerning the fate of 53 suitcases with unknown contents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transparentnigeria.com/news_entries/9088/S-H-O-C-K-I-N-G-5-starnge-things-you-never-knew-about-Buhari-%E2%80%93-By-Nzeribe-Enz|title=S-H-O-C-K-I-N-G!!! 5 starnge things you never knew about Buhari – By Nzeribe Enz|date=20 October 2014|website=transparentnigeria.com|publisher=Nzeribe Enz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119204253/http://www.transparentnigeria.com/news_entries/9088/S-H-O-C-K-I-N-G-5-starnge-things-you-never-knew-about-Buhari-%E2%80%93-By-Nzeribe-Enz|archive-date=19 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The suitcases were being transported by the Emir of Gwandu, whose son was Buhari's aide-de-camp, and were cleared through customs on 10 June 1984 without inspection during his return flight from Saudi Arabia.<ref>[http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/53-suitcases-saga-buhari-blasts-atiku-jonathan/ 53 SUITCASES SAGA: Buhari blasts Atiku, Jonathan – Vanguard News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406041542/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/53-suitcases-saga-buhari-blasts-atiku-jonathan/ |date=6 April 2015 }}. Vanguardngr.com (21 March 2011). Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref>

=== PTF allocation to the military ===
While Buhari was Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), critics had questioned the PTF's allocation of 20% of its resources to the military, which they feared would not be accountable for the revenue.<ref name="PTF2">{{cite web|url=http://www.africasia.com/archive/na/98_06/abcr0604.htm|title=Development: PTF – shining in the gloom|date=June 1998|access-date=4 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120225841/http://www.africasia.com/archive/na/98_06/abcr0604.htm|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 December 2014|title=The Buhari PTF Days: The Untold Story|url=http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/buhari-ptf-days-untold-story/|access-date=17 July 2020|website=Pointblank News|language=en-US|archive-date=19 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719145545/http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/buhari-ptf-days-untold-story/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Akhaine, Saxone (27 August 2001) [http://m.allafrica.com/stories/200108270355.html Nigeria: Buhari Calls for Sharia in All States] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123212623/http://m.allafrica.com/stories/200108270355.html/|date=23 January 2015}}. He was quoted in 2001 as saying, "I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria", he then added: "God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/insurgency-buharis-call-full-sharia/|title=Insurgency and Buhari's call for full Sharia|date=24 December 2014|website=vanguardngr.com|publisher=Viewpoint|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119192839/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/insurgency-buharis-call-full-sharia/|url-status=live}}</ref> Buhari has denied all allegations that he has a radical Islamist agenda.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12890807 Nigeria's Muhammadu Buhari in profile – BBC News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813125916/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12890807 |date=13 August 2018 }}. Bbc.co.uk (31 March 2015). Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref> On 6 January 2015, Buhari said: "Because they can't attack our record, they accuse me falsely of ethnic [[jingoism]]; they accuse me falsely of religious fundamentalism. Because they cannot attack our record, they accuse us falsely of calling for election violence – when we have only insisted on peace. Even as Head of State, we never imposed Sha'riah."<ref>Iginla, Ademola (6 January 2015) [https://web.archive.org/web/20151003041632/http://www.osundefender.org/?p=204013%2F A Great Message: Gen Buhari Tweets From His Heart This Morning]. osundefender.org</ref>

=== Mediation with Boko Haram ===
In 2012, Buhari's name was included on a list published by [[Boko Haram]] of individuals it would trust to mediate between the group and the Federal Government.<ref>[http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/boko-haram-names-buhari-5-others-as-mediators/ Boko Haram names Buhari, 5 others as mediators – Vanguard News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119224236/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/boko-haram-names-buhari-5-others-as-mediators/ |date=19 January 2015 }}. Vanguardngr.com (1 November 2012). Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref> However, Buhari strongly objected and declined to mediate between the government and Boko Haram. In 2013, Muhammadu Buhari made a series of statements, when he asked the Federal Government to stop the killing of Boko Haram members and blamed the rise of the terrorist group on the prevalence of [[Conflict in the Niger Delta|Niger Delta militants]] in the South. Buhari stated<ref name="pbk2">[http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/stop-killing-boko-haram-members-buhari-tells-fg/ Stop Killing Boko Haram Members – Buhari Tells FG] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119223446/http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/stop-killing-boko-haram-members-buhari-tells-fg/ |date=19 January 2015 }}. pointblanknews.com (2 June 2013)</ref> that "what is responsible for the security situation in the country is caused by the activities of Niger Delta militants [...] The Niger Delta militants started it all".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/yet-crush-boko-haram-jonathan/|title=Why we're yet to crush Boko Haram – Jonathan|date=13 December 2014|website=vanguardngr.com|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119225925/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/yet-crush-boko-haram-jonathan/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also questioned the special treatment including close to $500 million a year paid to 30,000 militants under the amnesty programme since 2013<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22357597 Has Nigeria's Niger Delta managed to buy peace? – BBC News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119113737/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22357597 |date=19 November 2018 }}. Bbc.co.uk (1 May 2013). Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref> by the Federal Government and deplored the fact that Boko Haram members were killed and their houses destroyed.

=== Abolishing the office of the first lady ===
{{Main|First Lady of Nigeria}}
In December 2014, Muhammadu Buhari went on the record to say he would abolish the office of the [[First Lady of Nigeria|First Lady]] if he was elected as president, claiming it was unconstitutional.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141231220655/http://www.that1960chick.com/2014/12/27/buhari-says-no-first-lady-if-elected-patience-jonathan-kinda-responds-what-do-you-think/#sthash.oOW9HuRs.mRUxlv1H.dpbs/ Buhari Says "No First Lady" If Elected&nbsp;... Patience Jonathan Kinda Responds. What Do You Think?]. that1960chick.com (27 December 2014). Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref><ref name=":1">[http://article.wn.com/view/2015/01/08/Buhari_Comes_Under_Severe_Attack_Over_Plans_to_Scrap_First_L/ Buhari Comes Under Severe Attack Over Plans to Scrap First Lady's Office – Worldnews.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418173853/http://article.wn.com/view/2015/01/08/Buhari_Comes_Under_Severe_Attack_Over_Plans_to_Scrap_First_L/ |date=18 April 2015 }}. Article.wn.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref>

The [[Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta]] (MEND), a Nigerian militant group that endorsed Buhari during the 2015 general elections, commended Buhari for his plans and went on to say that the office of the First Lady was "obviously an irrelevant, fraudulent and unconstitutional office, whose only purpose is to further plunder the resources of the country."<ref>[http://www.peoplesdailyng.com/mend-endorses-buhari-for-president/ MEND endorses Buhari for president | Peoples Daily Newspaper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427054521/http://www.peoplesdailyng.com/mend-endorses-buhari-for-president/ |date=27 April 2015 }}. Peoplesdailyng.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref>

Since assuming the presidency on 29 May 2015, Buhari has yet to terminate the office of the First Lady. [[Aisha Buhari]] operates from the office of the First Lady as "wife of the President".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150810030001/http://expressng.com/2015/08/aisha-buhari-takes-over-patience-jonathans-office/ Aisha Buhari Takes Over Patience Jonathan's Office – Entertainment Express]. Expressng.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref>

Having suggested the abolition of the [[First Lady of Nigeria|office of the First Lady]],<ref name=":1" /> Buhari has further aired some controversial statements about women.

On his visit to the Germany's [[Angela Merkel]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=World's Most Powerful Women|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/|access-date=11 April 2020|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=20 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920073036/https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/|url-status=live}}</ref> Buhari reiterated "I don't know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room" <ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=14 October 2016|title=Nigeria's President Buhari: My wife belongs in kitchen|language=en-gb|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37659863|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=14 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314230704/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37659863|url-status=live}}</ref> after his [[Aisha Buhari|wife]] had earlier advised him to step up his leadership.<ref name=":2" />

=== Plagiarism scandal ===
In September 2016, President Buhari came under heavy criticism after a newspaper report found him using [[plagiarized]] speech during the launching of a national re-orientation campaign tagged "Change begins with me". The speech was later found to be lifted from the 2009 inaugural speech of former US President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naij.com/1081685-buhari-leaders-caught-plagiarism-scandal.html|title=Buhari and other leaders caught in plagiarism scandal|date=10 January 2017|website=Naij.com|access-date=27 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202051531/https://www.naij.com/1081685-buhari-leaders-caught-plagiarism-scandal.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/17/nigerian-president-apologizes-for-plagiarizing-obama-in-speech|title=Nigerian president apologizes for plagiarizing Obama in speech|date=17 September 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=27 January 2017|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202124714/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/17/nigerian-president-apologizes-for-plagiarizing-obama-in-speech|url-status=live}}</ref> The presidency later apologized and says the blunder was caused by "overzealous staff" and "Those responsible" will be sanctioned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/nigeria-buhari-admits-line-plagiarised-obama-160917085048164.html|title=Nigeria's Buhari admits line plagiarised from Obama|website=Aljazeera|access-date=27 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202064117/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/nigeria-buhari-admits-line-plagiarised-obama-160917085048164.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37395605|title=Nigeria president blames aide for plagiarising Obama|date=17 September 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=27 January 2017|archive-date=21 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121102758/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37395605|url-status=live}}</ref> However, one week later, a deputy director in the State House linked to the speech was redeployed and presidency assured Nigerian public that it has taken steps to avoid a repeat of such an embarrassing occurrence by implementing digital tools that detect [[plagiarism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/buhari-sacks-official-plagiarism-obamas-speech/|title=Buhari sacks own official over plagiarism of Obama's speech|date=28 September 2016|website=Vanguard Newspaper|access-date=27 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043740/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/buhari-sacks-official-plagiarism-obamas-speech/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Twitter Ban ===
{{Main|Ban of Twitter in Nigeria}}
After Buhari made a [[Twitter]] post threatening violence against the [[Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria|Biafra insurgents]] in southeast Nigeria on 5 June 2021, [[Twitter]] deleted his comments as violations of its [[terms of service]]. Shortly thereafter, the [[Ban of Twitter in Nigeria|Nigerian government banned Twitter]] from the country entirely.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigeria ends its Twitter ban after seven months |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/1/12/nigeria-ends-its-twitter-ban-after-seven-months |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=[[Al Jazeera English|Aljazeera]] |language=en}}</ref> They lifted the ban on 13 January 2022, after they said Twitter had agreed to register its operations in Nigeria and pay [[tax]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 August 2021 |title=Twitter agrees to open office in Nigeria – Lai Mohammed |work=[[The Guardian (Nigeria)]] |url=https://guardian.ng/news/twitter-agrees-to-open-office-in-nigeria-lai-mohammed/ |access-date=5 June 2022}}</ref>

=== Signature Forgery Scandal ===
As part of the discovery made in a lawsuit levelled against the former CBN Governor of Nigeria, [[Godwin Emefiele]], [[Boss Mustapha]], a senior official in ex-President Buhari's administration, testified that three suspects allegedly stole $6.2m (£4.9m) from the central bank, using the forged signature of then President Muhammadu Buhari. <ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-14 |title=Nigerian ex-President Muhammadu Buhari's signature forged to withdraw $6m, court hears |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68282228 |access-date=2024-02-14 |language=en-GB}}</ref>