Sen. Abdulaziz Yari
Gold
By Abdul Hassan
A civil society organisation, the Coalition for Accountability and National Development (CAND), has called on security agencies to deepen investigations into illegal gold smuggling and unlawful mining activities.
Operatives of the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Directorate had arrested Anas Baffa, a security officer with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), over alleged gold smuggling.
The consignment of raw gold weighing 22.2 kilograms, valued at approximately ₦4.4 billion, was recently intercepted at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport while it was allegedly being smuggled out of the country illegally.
Baffa had allegedly concealed the raw gold in his trousers in an attempt to bypass airport security checks before handing it over to passengers preparing to travel abroad.
The group argued that several prominent individuals should be investigated in connection with the matter, including Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, former Governor of Zamfara State.
According to the organisation’s director, Ibrahim Musa, such activities deprive the government of significant revenue and contribute to worsening security challenges in parts of the country.
Meanwhile, another advocacy group, “Mai Kare Talakawa” based in Sokoto, has also questioned the source of Yari’s wealth and called for his investigation.
The group expressed concern over how Yari’s company, MA’AM Energy Limited, acquired a 95 per cent stake in Geregu Power Plc from businessman Femi Otedola in December 2025, in a transaction estimated to be worth about ₦1.08 trillion.
Also, in a video posted on TikTok, social commentator Junaidu Aminu claimed that authorities were conducting investigations involving an Ethiopian Airlines aircraft at the Kano airport.
He alleged that investigators discovered 15 boxes with concealed manifests, suspected to contain hazardous items.
Junaidu also claimed that the seizure reflected ongoing efforts by authorities to crack down on such activities.
According to him, illegal mining is linked to Nigeria’ prevailing security challenges such as kidnapping and banditry in Northern Nigeria, like in Zamfara State.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the EFCC has not officially confirmed the incident or any investigation into the incident.
Also, Yari has not publicly responded directly to the allegations made by the various groups and commentators.
