Recently, the claim stating “$45 billion was found in a Nigerian man’s flat, and he had spent ten years trying to get rid of it but no one answered his emails.” has recirculated and become viral. However, we found that the claim is false.
Social Media Posts
Multiple social media users shared an image of large stacks of cash with the text: “$45 billion was found in a Nigerian man’s flat, and he had spent ten years trying to get rid of it but no one answered his emails.” The story has gained significant attention, with one post receiving over 100K reactions.
Fact Check
Upon our investigation, we have not found any credible news report or government documentation that supports the idea that $45 billion in cash was discovered in a Nigerian man’s apartment. The largest confirmed cash seizure in Nigeria occurred in 2017 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) discovered $43 million (not billion), along with smaller amounts in other currencies, in an apartment in the upscale Ikoyi district of Lagos. This seizure was widely reported by major international news outlets such as CNN, CTV News and Sky News.
In this case, Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency discovered approximately $43 million in US dollars, ₦23.2 million ($75,000), and £27,800 ($35,000) in a Lagos luxury apartment. The cash was hidden behind bedroom wardrobe panels after authorities received a tip about suspicious activity.
This seizure was part of a larger anti-corruption initiative that also recovered ₦250 million ($817,000) from a Lagos market and ₦448 million ($1.5 million) from a shopping plaza. These recoveries were made possible by Nigeria’s whistleblower policy, which offers 2.5%–5% rewards for reporting stolen government funds. By February 2017, the program had reportedly recovered over $180 billion in assets.
The reference to “no one answered his emails” is a joke about the infamous “Nigerian prince” email scams. These scams, also called 419 scams (after the relevant section of Nigeria’s criminal code), typically involve someone pretending to be wealthy and asking for help transferring money. (Source)
The content appears to have originated on social media platforms including Reddit and Twitter, rather than from journalistic sources. A 2017 viral tweet stated: “$45 billion found in a Nigerian flat. Owner says: ‘I’ve been trying to give it away for ten years but no one replied to my emails.'”
There is no evidence that this statement originated from any news outlet, police report, or reputable source. It appears to be internet humor that references the well-known Nigerian email scam format.
Conclusion
The viral claim that “$45 billion was found in a Nigerian man’s flat after 10 years of unanswered emails” is false. Our investigation found no credible evidence supporting this claim. Instead, it appears to be a humorous reference to Nigerian email scams, combined with an exaggerated version of a real 2017 case where $43 million (not billion) was discovered in a Lagos apartment.
Title:Was $45 Billion Found in a Nigerian Man’s Flat After 10 Years of Unanswered Emails?
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: False
