Released Files Show Epstein Weighed Nigerian Crude Deal, Feared Fraud
NEWLY released documents from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have revealed that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once explored a potential business deal involving Nigeria’s crude oil sector but expressed serious reservations about the venture, fearing fraud.
The correspondence, dated September 2010, forms part of a broader cache of materials released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, shedding light on the financier’s business interests and extensive network of global contacts before his death in 2019.
The Email Trail
In an email exchange with a business associate identified as David Stern, Epstein was informed of an opportunity to profit from brokering or “flipping” Nigerian crude oil, reportedly for resale to China or other markets.
Stern referenced a third party, described only as “PA,” who claimed to have access to Nigerian crude supplies and buyers willing to pay a premium. The projected profit from the deal was estimated at around $6 million.
“PA has asked me to see a guy who has access to Nigerian oil, and when selling it to China (or somebody else), F. can make around $6m,” Stern wrote.
However, the enthusiasm was quickly tempered by caution.
“This seems very fishy (as my boss JEE would say),” Stern added, reflecting doubts that would ultimately define Epstein’s stance on the proposal.
Nigeria’s Oil Sector and Global Skepticism
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has long struggled with transparency challenges in its petroleum sector. Crude oil theft, illegal trading, opaque contracts, and governance failures have persisted despite repeated reform efforts.
While successive governments have pledged to clean up the industry, tangible progress has been slow. The state-owned oil company, NNPC Limited, only began publishing audited financial statements in recent years, underscoring the historical lack of openness that has made the sector risky for foreign intermediaries.
Against this backdrop, Epstein’s apparent concern about being defrauded aligns with broader international skepticism toward informal or opaque oil transactions involving Nigeria.
Nigeria in Epstein’s Wider Network
The crude oil discussion was not the only instance in which Nigeria featured in Epstein’s correspondence. Other emails show that he was routinely informed about potential investments, political access, and travel linked to the country.
In September 2010, Epstein received an email from George Reenstra, founder of Aircraft Service Group, informing him of an urgent trip to Nigeria to meet then-President Goodluck Jonathan, who had been sworn in just months earlier.
Reenstra described the meeting as unavoidable, though there is no public record confirming that the meeting ultimately took place.
Part of a Larger Web of Influence
The Nigeria-related exchanges form a small part of a much larger trove of communications revealing Epstein’s interactions with influential political, business, and social figures.
The documents reference figures such as Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Elon Musk, Steve Bannon, and Howard Lutnick, among others. While many named individuals have denied wrongdoing or distanced themselves from Epstein, the files illustrate how deeply embedded he was within elite global networks.
A Window Into Risk and Reputation
Epstein’s hesitation over the Nigerian oil proposal highlights not only his appetite for high-risk, high-reward ventures but also his awareness of reputational and financial danger.
Even for a man accustomed to operating in murky financial spaces, the prospect of Nigerian crude trading appeared to cross a threshold of risk he was unwilling to accept.
