Nigerian investigative journalist David Hundeyin has stated that Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola GCFR popularly known as MKO Abiola was a criminal.

During an episode of the Noble Nigeria podcast, Hundeyin claimed that MKO was notorious for engaging in illegal activities and involving himself in various criminal endeavours.

According to the journalist, although many people view MKO Abiola as a good man with the best interests of the country at heart, he was actually involved in activities such as gun running, smuggling, and financing coups.

Hundeyin explained, “There was Tinubu and then there was the original Tinubu, MKO Abiola. Despite all of his wealth, his money was made under similar circumstances because MKO was also a criminal. There was no type of criminal activity that man was not involved in. Gun running, coup financing, smuggling of every legal or illegal commodity his hand was inside. And he made a fantastic fortune, but despite all of his money and the presidency that he wanted, they made sure he did not get it.”

Regarding MKO Abiola’s wealth, Hundeyin mentioned that the politician amassed his fortune by defrauding the Nigerian people through the ITT contract.

He recounted how MKO Abiola was awarded the contract to establish the telecommunications backbone in Nigeria but instead embezzled the funds, resulting in delayed telephone access for the country until 2001.

This contract scam was significant source of Abiola’s wealth. Hundeyin also highlighted MKO’s close relationship with former military leaders, such as IBB and Abacha, suggesting that his criminal activities spanned from 1978 to 1992.

Hundeyin emphasized that MKO Abiola’s wealth was built on deceit and corruption.

“MKO and IBB were friends. MKO financed IBB school, they were very good friends. MKO was friends with most of these military officers including Abacha… there is nothing illegal that happened between 1978 and 1992 that MKO Abiola’s hand was not inside. That man made billions. One of the reasons we didn’t have telephones in Nigeria until 2001 was because of Abiola. The ITT thing, was Abiola. He basically got a huge contract to provide the backbone for telephone in Nigeria, and it turned out to be a contract scam. He just pocketed the money and didn’t do the job. That is where a large part of his fortune came from,” Hundeyin said.

Watch the video below;