News
Scandal Erupts As Aviation Minister Keyamo Bypassed Protocols To Fly American Lover, Family Into Nigeria On Private Jet, Skipped Immigration Checks, Funded Lavish Lifestyle
Despite concerns about travel documentation as her mother lacked a valid visa, Keyamo reportedly insisted on urgency.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been caught in the centre of a scandal involving alleged abuse of office, misuse of state resources, and breach of aviation and immigration protocols to facilitate the relocation of his American lover, her mother, and others from the United States to Nigeria through Uganda.
SaharaReporters gathered exclusive details of the operation from Zainab, the American woman involved, and a senior aide to the minister, revealing a web of luxury travel, diplomatic shortcuts, and illicit diversion of public funds.
Zainab, who holds an American passport, has a Yemeni father and a mother of Congolese descent with ancestral roots in Uganda.
She told SaharaReporters that her relationship with Keyamo began on September 21, 2023, at a United Nations event in New York, where she worked as a multilingual translator.
“I was greeting dignitaries and helping with translations when his aide approached me. He said the minister wanted to take a photo with me. The aide took my number to send me the photo, but later that day, it was the minister himself who contacted me. That’s how we started talking,” Zainab said.
Their communication intensified, and within days, Keyamo visited her mother at their New York residence.
“He came to our house on September 30, 2023. During the visit, he offered to relocate me and my family to Nigeria to manage his properties. He promised a job for my cousin, too,” she recounted.
Despite concerns about travel documentation as her mother lacked a valid visa, Keyamo reportedly insisted on urgency.
“He said we should get an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) instead of waiting. He wanted us to move fast,” Zainab said.
On November 13, 2023, Zainab, her mother, and other companions left New York aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET513 in business class, flying through Addis Ababa to Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport.
SaharaReporters learned that Zainab’s mother’s seat on the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET513 was located at Zone 4, Gate 5, Terminal 7, Seat 3C.
The minister recommended that they make a stopover in Uganda due to his travel plans for the Christmas holidays, during which he would be away in the US and Dubai.
Zainab explained further why they initially went to Uganda, saying, “He didn’t want us to be stranded in Nigeria while he was away. Since my mum has roots in Uganda, we used the opportunity to visit family members she had only met on WhatsApp. He planned to join us later in Uganda, but that didn’t happen.”
Their stay in Uganda lasted until December 22, 2023. During this period, Keyamo reportedly paid for luxury accommodations at Imperial Mall Residence and Mbale Resort Hotel, where room rates were as high as $400 per night.
A convoy of hired vans, security personnel, and domestic staff supported the group, which included 12–15 people.
“All expenses were covered by the minister. He kept sending money. Even our housemaid in New York received funds from him. He paid for hotels, transport, and even the staff we hired locally in Uganda,” Zainab revealed.
She named three individuals who travelled with her from Uganda to Abuja: Balinda Ndagire J. Hislaire; Nsubuga Douglas; and Rambo Prinston Hakim.
She explained that the drivers, maids, bouncers, and other helpers were hired locally to ease their stay and were left behind in Uganda once their services were no longer needed.
“Four of us travelled from Uganda to Abuja. Those others, we hired them. It was the driver, it was the security men, bouncers, and one maid for the boy. One helper for the mum,” she said.
On December 22, Keyamo reportedly organised a private jet, owned by a well-known Nigerian business mogul, to fly Zainab and her entourage from Kampala to Abuja, bypassing standard immigration procedures.
“We landed in Abuja’s presidential wing. No immigration, no security checks. We just walked out. Everything was cleared before we landed,” Zainab said.
A senior aide to the minister confirmed to SaharaReporters that the lavish relocation was funded not from Keyamo’s personal resources, but from the budget of the Ministry of Aviation.
“The tickets alone cost about $5,000. Their Uganda stay cost more than $10,000. It’s close to $20,000 in total. All that money came from the ministry. The woman complained at one point that things were getting expensive, but Oga told her not to worry—he had it covered,” the aide revealed.
The aide further disclosed that when Zainab and her family arrived in Nigeria, their home was fully furnished with brand new appliances, generators, and household items, all allegedly paid for with public funds.
“Everything in the house was new. From the generator to furniture, water pumping machines—nothing was used. The money came from the ministry, not his personal pocket,” he added.
Zainab corroborated this claim, stating that even in Uganda, she was directed to obtain emergency travel documents through backdoor channels based on her mother’s ancestry.
“Oga (Keyamo) told me to contact the Congolese Embassy in New York for my mum’s documents, but when he realised it would take time, he told me to email the Ugandan Embassy instead. He said they’d issue a temporary travel document based on her family roots,” she said.
“The minister broke a lot of aviation protocols to take us to Nigeria. We were not checked by any immigration or security operatives. We landed at the presidential wing and left without being checked or following any protocol. I never had to go up to the counter; getting my passport stamped was always done on my behalf. Festus Keyamo’s aide did everything,” she added.
She said that although they were initially granted a one-month stay upon arrival in Nigeria, they overstayed the permitted duration while staying with Keyamo.
“My mum and my nephew, Prince, came in on December 22, 2023, and Prince left on June 5, 2024,” she said.
“I always asked him (Keyamo) things about our movements, and he always reassured us that he worked for aviation, and it would be sorted,” she said.
When contacted by SaharaReporters for comments, Festus Keyamo dismissed Zainab as a blackmailer.
“Thanks for reaching out. I am not very familiar with all the details of this situation, as she was my sister’s friend who, as I understand, attempted to blackmail us for money about a year ago. Please speak with her for more information,” Keyamo said.
His sister, Ruth, when asked about the immigration irregularities, said: “What do you mean by ‘standard’ immigration procedure? They had visas and lawfully entered the country for their mother’s treatment.”
She also denied any use of government funds. She said: “I have provided you with the actual payment details for their sick mother’s treatment, sourced from family and friends. There is no funding from any government or government account.”
Ruth claimed she met Zainab seven years ago through a friend named Rosemary. However, when SaharaReporters requested Rosemary’s contact information, Ruth said she had died. She also denied knowing about any romantic relationship between Zainab and Minister Keyamo and was unable to provide any photograph of Rosemary.
In contrast, Zainab maintained that she met Ruth through Keyamo after their relocation from the United States to Nigeria.
“I can only imagine what they’re trying so hard to cover up,” Zainab said. “Maybe the real question is—who is this Rosemary? Are there any pictures of her? Where exactly did I meet her? And how could I have met Keyamo’s sister if this was my first time in Nigeria?”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Immigration Service failed to respond to enquiries from SaharaReporters regarding the secret entry of Zainab and family members.
-Sahara
Entertainment
Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss
Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.
The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.
In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.
“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.
Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).
The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.
Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.
“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.
“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.
Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.
He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.
-Guardian
Entertainment
Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women
Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.
The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.
“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.
While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.
“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.
Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.
“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.
He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.
“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.
In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.
“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.
He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.
Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.
“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.
“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”
He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.
-Guardian
Article
Court adjourns Ganduje’s corruption trial to April 15
A Kano State High Court has adjourned until April 15 the trial of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and son, Abdullahi Umar, alongside five other defendants, over alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to billions of naira.
The defendants are facing an 11-count charge bordering on bribery, conspiracy, misappropriation, and diversion of public funds. The remaining accused persons are Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd, and Lasage General Enterprises Ltd.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution told the court it was ready to proceed and drew attention to a motion dated November 24, 2025, seeking leave to file additional proof of evidence.
However, defence lawyers raised objections, informing the court that multiple applications were pending and must be resolved before the trial could continue.
Lydia Oluwakemi-Oyewo, counsel to some of the defendants, said the defence had filed a motion dated July 17, 2025, seeking a stay of proceedings.
Adekunle Taiye-Falola, representing the third and seventh defendants, also referred to a separate motion dated May 23, 2025.
In addition, Muhammad Shehu, counsel to the fifth defendant, told the court that an affidavit had been filed notifying it of a pending application for stay of proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
Abubakar Ahmad, counsel to the sixth defendant, informed the court that he had filed a notice of preliminary objection and an application for extension of time to respond on points of law dated February 2, urging the court to fix a date for hearing.
Only Faruk Asekome, counsel to the eighth defendant, indicated readiness to proceed with the trial.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, adjourned the matter to April 15 for the hearing of all pending applications and preliminary objections.
The trial has suffered repeated delays due to legal challenges. The high court had earlier dismissed preliminary objections raised by the defence as “incompetent” and affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the case.
That ruling was appealed by the defendants, who argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction. However, in October 2025, the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal struck out the appeal, citing failure to properly transmit the record of appeal.
-Guardian
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