“Buhari Broke” Because He Didn’t Take Bribes, Garba Shehu Claims

Former President Muhammadu Buhari is reportedly “broke” due to his refusal to accept bribes during his tenure, according to his longtime spokesman, Garba Shehu. Shehu made the comments during a June 2025 interview, asserting that Buhari’s austerity and integrity set him apart in a political system where corruption is pervasive.

As presidential spokesman, Shehu had a consistent narrative: Buhari engaged no in corrupt enrichment, unlike predecessors notorious for stashing stolen public resources in covert accounts. He emphasized that Buhari slept “soundly” knowing there were no hidden bank accounts or illicit assets tied to him.

Drawing a stark contrast with other political elites, Shehu claimed that many Nigerian officials eagerly await the end of Buhari’s term to resume old patterns of corruption, but the former president remained “above scandal”. He further revealed that Buhari’s personal wealth—including his Daura ranch cows—did not grow during his eight-year administration.

Highlighting systemic corruption, Shehu argued Buhari’s refusal to take bribes left him without the typical wealth accumulation seen in office. “If you search, you won’t find a bank account with his name full of illicit cash,” Shehu declared, underscoring the former leader’s principled stance.

While transparency advocates praised the claim that Buhari’s assets remained unchanged, critics highlighted that the country’s 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index ranking (154/180) indicated systemic issues persisted within his administration .

As the nation debates Buhari’s legacy, this revelation adds a layer of complexity: ethics over enrichment, and austerity over affluence. Still unresolved is whether Buhari’s mode of clean living was sufficient for lasting reform—or merely symbolic in a system addicted to self-enrichment.