18 Facts About Ismaila Gwarzo

Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo is a retired Nigerian high ranking security and intelligence official.

Ismaila Gwarzo was a police officer, and the first Director of the State Security Service; Minister of Police Affairs and was the National Security Adviser to Head of State Sani Abacha.

Ismaila Gwarzo has been linked to the theft of about $2.45 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Aliyu Ismaila Gwarzo was born in the town of Gwarzo in Kano State, about 72 kilometres from the capital Kano.

Ismaila Gwarzo entered the Nigeria Police Force where he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility, retiring with a senior rank.

Ismaila Gwarzo was suspected of involvement in the assassination, but could not be questioned due to his position.

Ismaila Gwarzo was National Security Advisor for President Ernest Shonekan, who took office in August 1993, and then for General Sani Abacha from November 1993 onward.

Ismaila Gwarzo concentrated mostly on security matters, and did not become involved in foreign policy decisions.

However, Ismaila Gwarzo did ask for funds for a campaign to cultivate the friendship of East African countries and the OAU to garner support for Nigeria gaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Ismaila Gwarzo reportedly issued fake security reports that made it possible for hundreds of millions of dollars to be transferred from the government into private accounts owned by Abacha's relatives, while becoming a rich man in the process.

Abacha told Ismaila Gwarzo to prepare funding requests for fake security projects, which Abacha approved as Head of State.

Ismaila Gwarzo bought $100 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria at the official rate of N22 per dollar, and sold at the market rate of N84 per dollar, keeping the profit.

Ismaila Gwarzo was freed after being detained for three months.

Ismaila Gwarzo was eventually accused of stealing an estimated $2.45 billion from the Nigerian Central Bank.

Ismaila Gwarzo reportedly "insisted that he was merely 'an errand boy' to the late Abacha".

Ismaila Gwarzo was under house arrest for 18 months with no charges brought against him.

In September 2000 Ismaila Gwarzo appeared before a Swiss judge and a team of Swiss detectives in Abuja.

Ismaila Gwarzo offered to pay another $500 million to the Federal government.