Skip to main content
1000Reasons

Reason222

Under investigation

Aboubakar Hima ('Petit Boubé')

Niger-national arms broker known by the nickname 'Petit Boubé'; son-in-law of former Niger president Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara. Set up Imprimerie du Plateau printing firm in Niger 2003, then moved into arms brokering by 2010. Worked closely with Sambo Dasuki during the Jonathan administration 2010–2015; netted over $400m in fraudulent Nigerian arms contracts 2014–2015 per EFCC. Declared wanted by Nigeria's EFCC. Subsequently surfaced as the broker behind a $77m 2024 Senegalese Environment Ministry arms deal under his Lavie Commercial Brokers vehicle (OCCRP investigation). Some assets seized by US and South African authorities over illicit arms deals.

Sources

SOURCE-01OCCRP — Notorious Nigerien Weapons Broker Lands Secret Arms Deal in Senegal
OCCRP — Notorious Nigerien Weapons Broker Lands Secret Arms Deal in Senegalwww.occrp.org/en/investigation/notorious-nigerien-weapons-broker-lands-secret-arms-deal-in-senegal
SOURCE-02News24 — US court battle gives clues to Nigerian arms scandal
News24 — US court battle gives clues to Nigerian arms scandalwww.news24.com/News24/us-court-battle-gives-clues-to-nigerian-arms-scandal-20170518
SOURCE-03Wikipedia — $2 billion arms deal
Wikipedia — $2 billion arms dealen.wikipedia.org/wiki/$2_billion_arms_deal

Right of reply: corrections@1000reasons.vote