Fresh documents released by the United States Department of Justice have alleged that Okey Enelamah, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment under former President Muhammadu Buhari, held a meeting with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while in office.
The records, dated February 6, 2026, claim the meeting took place through the involvement of Jide Zeitlin, a former Goldman Sachs partner, during talks around a proposed deep seaport project in Badagry, Lagos.
According to the documents, Zeitlin introduced Epstein to Enelamah as discussions progressed on plans to develop a seaport in Badagry.
The papers state that Epstein was drawn into conversations about the project and was linked to Nigerian government officials through Zeitlin, including Enelamah, who was overseeing trade and investment matters at the time.
The files further show that Zeitlin considered assigning the project to one of Epstein’s associates, Sultan Bin Sulayem.
Bin Sulayem reportedly showed interest in Badagry instead of Lekki, citing better existing infrastructure in the area.
Email exchanges referenced in the documents also suggest that Enelamah met with Zeitlin in the United States shortly after President Buhari’s visit to then US President Donald Trump in 2018.
The communication indicated that Enelamah had earlier interacted with Epstein at the World Economic Forum and that Zeitlin planned further discussions involving Epstein.
The Justice Department files note that these engagements happened long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and jail sentence for sexual offences involving minors.
Despite growing lawsuits and public scrutiny linked to sexual abuse claims, Epstein was said to have continued associating with influential figures during that period.
The documents also mention that around the same time, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates cut off contact with Epstein.
Gates reportedly asked for previous communications to be deleted and requested that Epstein step down from any bodies connected to the Gates Foundation.
For several weeks, Enelamah did not respond to questions from Peoples Gazette regarding the alleged meeting.
After being told the report would be published without his comments, a representative speaking on his behalf said the former minister had no involvement in Epstein’s crimes or any criminal activity.
Enelamah’s time in office was not without controversy.
In 2016, he was accused of working with telecoms firm MTN to move $13 billion out of Nigeria, an allegation he denied.
He was also questioned by the Senate in 2019 over claims surrounding the diversion of ₦42 billion linked to the Nigeria Special Economic Zone project.
Enelamah rejected the claim, stating that all private sector involvement had presidential approval. Although lawmakers challenged parts of his explanation, no offence was established.
The intermediary named in the files, Zeitlin, later stepped down as chief executive officer of fashion company Tapestry in 2020 following a separate scandal involving claims of a false identity and accusations that he secretly photographed women nude.
Earlier allegations from a former partner had also led to the collapse of his nomination as a US ambassador during the Obama administration.
Zeitlin has denied committing any crime but admitted that his past actions contributed to his resignation, explaining that he chose to leave his role to prevent further distraction to the company.
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