When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on May 29, 2023 that “fuel subsidy is gone”, many feared economic hardship. But beneath the concern lay a deeper truth—this single policy decision marked the beginning of the demolition of Nigeria’s most entrenched financial scam, an elaborate cartel that siphoned off trillions of naira under the guise of fuel importation.
Among the most glaring revelations is the case of Mamman Nasir Ali, the son of former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, whose lavish lifestyle—cruising in the latest Rolls Royce and Bentley cars—is now being understood as the spoils of one of Nigeria’s largest subsidy frauds.
Nigerians Asked for Names, and Now They’re Being Named
For over a decade, Nigerians demanded answers: Who are the real beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy racket? Who got paid billions without importing a drop of fuel? Why was Nigeria going broke while a few individuals flaunted obscene wealth?
Thanks to the EFCC’s investigations and the transparency drive under the Tinubu administration, those questions are finally being answered.
Mamman Ali, through Nasaman Oil Services, was accused of fraudulently obtaining ₦1.48 billion in subsidy payments for the alleged importation of 20.49 million litres of petrol—when, in fact, no fuel was imported. Court documents and EFCC findings show a total of ₦2.2 billion was transferred through the Petroleum Support Fund using forged documents, falsified shipping records, and with the tacit approval of insiders across multiple government agencies.
What did Nigeria get in return? Zero litres of fuel.
What did Mamman Ali get? Luxury cars, global properties, and elite political cover.
Judgment Day Approaches: Will Justice Finally Prevail?
According to inside sources, several subsidy fraud prosecutions—including Mamman Ali’s case—are heading toward final court judgments in late 2025. This comes after years of delays, political interference, and plea bargains that denied Nigerians the justice they deserve.
This time, however, things are different. With President Tinubu’s stance on accountability and a resurgent EFCC, the Federal Government is poised to publicly expose all major subsidy fraud beneficiaries, many of whom belong to the top echelons of the PDP and its affiliated structures.
Subsidy Was Never for the Poor—It Was for the Powerful
Between 2006 and 2022, over ₦21 trillion was spent on fuel subsidies, yet:
Nigeria consistently faced fuel scarcity
The refineries remained non-functional
The poorest Nigerians who relied on public transport benefited the least
A few companies, often linked to political godfathers, made billions in fake claims
According to the 2012 Ribadu Report and the Aig-Imoukhuede-led Presidential Task Force, over 117 oil marketers were found guilty of gross misrepresentation, with 53 companies recommended for criminal prosecution. But most of these cases fizzled out under pressure from political patrons.
Zanga Zanga and the Desperation to Regain Power
In August 2024, violent protests erupted—later dubbed the “Zanga Zanga riots”—aimed at discrediting Tinubu’s reforms. Independent intelligence sources and civic monitors later linked the funding of these disruptions to individuals directly affected by the loss of subsidy billions, many of whom were beneficiaries or facilitators of subsidy fraud.
These same individuals are now rallying around desperate political coalitions with no clear ideology, hoping to regain control in 2027—not for the sake of national progress, but to protect their wealth and escape prosecution.
As one political analyst Dr. Amiida put it:
“This is not a fight between parties; it is a fight between reformers and looters. Tinubu’s presidency has cut off their oxygen.”
A Reform Worth Every Naira
While the subsidy removal and naira floatation have caused short-term economic discomfort, global institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and Moody’s have praised Nigeria’s reforms as structural game-changers.
The World Bank estimates that Nigeria is now saving over ₦400 billion monthly from subsidy removal alone.
The Central Bank has regained tools for forex regulation, ending the multi-billion dollar arbitrage racket that thrived under multiple exchange windows.
The Federal Government is now redirecting resources to sectors like infrastructure, health, and education.
Conclusion: No More Hiding for the Barawo Elite
The case of Mamman Ali, the young billionaire barawo who once lived above scrutiny, represents a turning point in Nigeria’s anti-corruption journey. With the fuel subsidy racket finally dismantled, and trials entering their final phase, a new era of transparency and justice is emerging.
President Tinubu’s courage to challenge Nigeria’s most corrupt economic structures has come at a political cost—but history will remember him as the leader who finally called their bluff.
The age of protected looters is ending. And justice—for every litre unimported and every naira stolen—is coming.
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COMMENTS
“Fueling Fraud: How Tinubu’s Reforms Exposed Nigeria’s Billion-Naira Subsidy Cartel”
“This isn’t just a reform—it’s the largest economic cleansing since the Structural Adjustment Program. President Tinubu has exposed the financial underworld that operated beneath our fuel pumps.”
— Dr. Kelechi Obiora, Economic Analyst & Policy Researcher, Abuja
“The ₦2.2 Billion Lie: Mamman Ali, Fake Fuel Imports, and the End of a Scam”
“Imagine claiming over two billion naira for fuel that never existed—this was industrial-scale fraud, and Mamman Ali’s case is just the tip of the iceberg.”
— Barr. Hadiza Yusuf, Senior Prosecutor, Federal High Court, Lagos
“Subsidy Scam Unmasked: Rolls Royce, Forged Papers, and a Broken Nation”
“The sheer arrogance of using forged documents to steal billions while flaunting luxury cars in a struggling economy shows why bold reform was necessary.”
— Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, National Patriots & Publisher, HeadlineNews.News
“Barawo in a Bentley: Inside Nigeria’s Fuel Subsidy Empire and Its Fall”
“Mamman Ali became the poster child for elite impunity. He lived like royalty on public funds. That era is ending—and Nigeria owes Tinubu credit for that.”
— Comrade Uche Onuorah, Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption
“The Faces Behind the Fraud: Fuel Subsidy Thieves Finally Named”
“For years we asked, ‘Who are the beneficiaries?’ Now we’re seeing names, court dates, and case files. Justice may be slow, but it’s finally moving.”
— Dr. Maryam Bello, Lecturer in Political Science, University of Ilorin
“FG to Prosecute Fuel Subsidy Fraudsters as Tinubu’s Reforms Reveal Hidden Beneficiaries”
“What we are witnessing is a long-overdue return to moral order in public finance. Those who looted under the guise of subsidy must face the full weight of the law.”
— Former UN Under-Secretary-General
“From Subsidy to Sanity: Tinubu’s War on Elite Looters Enters Final Phase”
“This is not merely an economic correction—it is an ethical rebirth. President Tinubu’s stance is courageous and historic. Let no man be above the law.”
— Elder Statesman & Former Commonwealth Secretary-General
“How One Policy Ended a Trillion-Naira Scam: The True Cost of Nigeria’s Subsidy Era”
“For decades, the fuel subsidy was Nigeria’s biggest unlegislated fraud. President Tinubu has surgically removed what previous leaders feared to touch.”
— Legal Luminary & Human Rights Advocate
“Subsidy Beneficiaries to Face Court as FG Moves to Recover Looted Billions”
“This is a turning point for the Nigerian justice system. No society can thrive where looters live as kings while honest citizens suffer. We must recover every kobo.”
— Former Supreme Court Justice
“Cracking the Cartel: Nigeria’s Boldest Economic Cleanup in Modern History”
“This is our economic Abacha moment—a rare time when the government is naming names, tracing funds, and confronting corruption head-on. Nigerians must stand firm.”
— Civil Rights Activist & Former Senator
Femi Falana, SAN – Human Rights Lawyer and Legal Luminary
Femi Falana has expressed concerns about the transparency of the fuel subsidy removal. In March 2024, he stated:
“If the federal government is spending as much as N1 trillion on fuel subsidy per month, it is high time the policy was reviewed in the interest of the Nigerian people.” He urged the government to clarify the status of fuel subsidies and ensure transparency in fuel importation processes.
Senator Shehu Sani – Former Federal Lawmaker and Activist
Senator Shehu Sani supported the removal of fuel subsidies, emphasizing the need to end associated corruption. In May 2023, he remarked:
“There is no better time to take tough economic decisions to revamp our economy than now. The culture of allocating foreign exchange to elites with multiple bureaus de change to sell on the black market must end. The opacity of the subsidy regime’s chains of fraud must also end.”
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi – Former Central Bank Governor
Sanusi has long criticized the fuel subsidy system, highlighting its role in fostering corruption and economic inefficiency. He argued that the subsidy encouraged rent-seeking behavior and diverted funds from productive investments.
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