Former senator Dino Melaye has rejected claims that his wealth came from public funds, saying he built his fortune through decades of private investments that began with a goat he bought at age 12.
Speaking on the KaaTruths podcast, the African Democratic Congress member said he had never been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission because he never handled government contracts.
“If my wealth were ill-gotten, if I had stolen government money, I would not be criticising the government, because they would have long come after me,” Melaye said.
“I’ve never been invited by the EFCC, the ICPC, or any of the anti-corruption agencies in this country, because I’ve never handled government contracts, whether at the federal or state level.”
He described himself as “comfortable” rather than extremely wealthy and traced his financial path to early livestock trading.
“When I was 12, I bought a goat, and this goat would give birth, and I would sell its offspring to pay my school fees in secondary school. From the offspring of that goat, I paid for my WAEC, JAMB, and my first and second years at Ahmadu Bello University,” he said.
Melaye said he began investing internationally at 18 and later put money into Eurobonds about 27 years ago when one euro exchanged for 60 naira, rolling over the dividends without withdrawing them.
He also claimed early investments in Apple, Microsoft, Uber and Zoom shares, noting that the Zoom stake multiplied significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and said he had grown franchise businesses in the United States from one outlet to several over more than 20 years.
Melaye, who left public office in 2019, urged Nigerians to start investing with whatever capital they have rather than waiting for large sums.
