Posted by Samuel on Fri 06th Feb, 2026 - tori.ng
The files indicate that the meeting was arranged by former Goldman Sachs partner Jide Zeitlin, who introduced Epstein to Enelamah amid discussions over a proposed seaport project in Badagry, Lagos.
Newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice have alleged that Nigeria’s former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okey Enelamah, held a meeting with convicted s*x offender Jeffrey Epstein while in office.
The files indicate that the meeting was arranged by former Goldman Sachs partner Jide Zeitlin, who introduced Epstein to Enelamah amid discussions over a proposed seaport project in Badagry, Lagos.
According to the documents, Zeitlin engaged Epstein in conversations around the development of a deep seaport in Badagry and facilitated contacts between the financier and Nigerian officials, including Enelamah, then Nigeria’s trade minister.
Correspondence cited in the files showed that Zeitlin also explored the possibility of entrusting the project to an associate of Epstein, Sultan Bin Sulayem, who expressed interest in Badagry over Lekki due to existing infrastructure.
“Dear Jide, Jeffrey introduced us a while ago. We are very interested in Nigeria. The two locations available are Badagry and Lekki. We prefer Badagry because the infrastructure is better,” Bin Sulayem wrote in a June 2018 email.
In another email dated May 3, 2018, Zeitlin informed Epstein that Enelamah had visited him following President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with then US President Donald Trump.
“Okey Enelamah, Nigeria’s trade minister, stopped by my home this evening as he was still in town after Buhari’s visit with Trump. He mentioned his discussions with you at WEF,” Zeitlin wrote to Epstein on May 3, 2018. “Whenever we meet, I have some thoughts that may be helpful to you.”
The files note that the engagement occurred years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and jail term for molesting minors, during a period when he continued to maintain relationships with powerful figures despite mounting lawsuits tied to s*xual abuse allegations.
The documents also highlight that during the same period, Bill Gates severed ties with Epstein, requesting that all correspondence be deleted and that Epstein resign from entities linked to the Gates Foundation.
For weeks, Enelamah declined to address enquiries from Peoples Gazette regarding his alleged interactions with Epstein. After being informed that the report would be published without his input, a publicist representing him said the former minister was not involved in Epstein’s crimes or any criminal activity.
Enelamah’s tenure as trade minister was marked by controversies, including allegations that he colluded with MTN to repatriate $13bn from Nigeria in 2016—claims he denied.
In 2019, he was also questioned by the Senate over the alleged diversion of ₦42bn linked to the Nigeria Special Economic Zone project. Enelamah rejected the allegation, insisting that the involvement of private investors was approved by then-President Buhari. Senators disputed aspects of his account, but no wrongdoing was established.
Zeitlin, the intermediary named in the files, later resigned as Chief Executive Officer of Tapestry in 2020 after a separate scandal involving a double identity and allegations that he photographed women nude under a false name.
His earlier nomination by former US President Barack Obama as US ambassador for UN management and reform collapsed after allegations from a former partner surfaced, prompting his withdrawal.
Zeitlin has denied criminal wrongdoing but acknowledged that his past relationship led to his resignation, saying he stepped aside to avoid becoming a distraction to the company.