A fresh batch of leaked documents connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein has reignited global scrutiny after revealing his interest in Nigeria’s oil sector. It refers to a possible high-level engagement during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the leaked emails, Epstein explored potential involvement in Nigerian crude oil transactions around 2010, exchanging correspondence with business associates about the feasibility and profitability of such deals.
The documents suggest he viewed Nigeria’s oil market as lucrative but expressed concerns about the credibility of intermediaries and the risk of being defrauded.
Moreover, the files include a message indicating that one of Epstein’s associates planned to travel to Nigeria for a meeting linked to then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
While the correspondence referenced the proposed engagement, the documents did not confirm whether the meeting eventually took place or if Epstein had any direct contact with Nigerian government officials.
Further examination of the emails reveals that discussions about Nigeria primarily focused on commercial opportunities and logistical arrangements, rather than established transactions.
Notably, there is no evidence in the leaked materials that implicates Nigerian authorities in wrongdoing or suggests that any oil deal involving Epstein was concluded.
However, analysts say the revelations underscore the breadth of Epstein’s global business interests and his attempts to leverage political and economic networks beyond the United States.
They also highlight how Nigeria’s strategic oil sector has long attracted attention from international financiers seeking high-yield opportunities.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
Since then, successive releases of documents linked to his case have continued to expose the scale of his associations worldwide, prompting renewed calls for transparency around the individuals and institutions that crossed his path.