Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is a Nigerian politician who is the current minister of budget and economic planning in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu. He served as the governor of Kebbi State from 2015 to 2023 and as the senator representing the Kebbi Central senatorial district from 2009 to 2015. He is also a named accomplice in multiple investigations involving corruption that occurred during the regime of former Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha.
We’d be seeing Abubakar Atiku Bagudu’s biography, date of birth, age, early life, family, wife, children, political career, businesses, net worth, houses, cars, social media handles and more.
Full names: Abubakar Atiku Bagudu CON
Date of birth: 26th December, 1961
Age: 61 years
Nationality: Nigerian
Spouse(s): Dr. Zainab Atiku Bagudu, Aisha Atiku Bagudu
Children: Maryam Bagudu
Education: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, University of Jos
Occupation: Politician
Net worth:
Biography and Early Life
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was born on December 26, 1961 in Gwandu, Kebbi State. He is from a wealthy family, as his father was the director of primary education in Kebbi State. He obtained a BSc (Economics) degree from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, MSc (Economics) from the University of Jos and MA (International Affairs) from Columbia University, New York, USA.
Political Career
Bagudu started his political career in 2008 when he was elected senator for the Kebbi Central senatorial district during a by-election after Senator Adamu Aliero was appointed minister of the Federal Capital Territory by President Goodluck Jonathan. He ran successfully for re-election in 2011 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2014, Bagudu defected from PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and became the party’s flagbearer for the Kebbi 2015 gubernatorial elections. He won the election in a landslide victory, polling 673,717 votes, while his rival Senator Isah Galaudu of PDP polled 106,633 votes. He was re-elected for a second term in 2019 with a similar margin of victory.
As the governor of Kebbi State, Bagudu initiated and executed several projects and programs in the areas of road construction, agriculture, health, education, and social development. He also partnered with the Lagos State government on the establishment of a commodity value chain that would enhance food processing, production, and distribution. He attracted investors like Dangote who built a rice mill and sugar factory in Kebbi and the Kebbi/NNPC ethanol project in Zuru Emirate.
In 2023, Bagudu contested and won the ticket of the APC for the Kebbi Central senatorial election, but he lost the election to PDP incumbent Adamu Aliero who had previously moved from the APC after losing the primaries. He was appointed minister of budget and economic planning by President Bola Tinubu on August 16, 2023.
Personal Life
Bagudu is married to two wives, Dr. Zainab Atiku Bagudu and Aisha Atiku Bagudu. He has several children from both marriages. His wife Zainab is a medical doctor and the founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, a non-governmental organization that provides cancer awareness, screening, and treatment services to the underprivileged.
Bagudu had a close relationship with former Head of State, Major General Sani Abacha, who was accused of stealing more than $2.2 billion of public funds during his five-year tenure as Nigerian president in the 1990s. In 2003, Bagudu was arrested and extradited from Houston, Texas at the request of Jersey, where Bagudu had set up a shell company called Doraville Properties to launder funds stolen from Nigeria. He was released after reaching a settlement with the authorities and forfeiting some of his assets.
Net Worth
Bagudu’s net worth is not publicly known, but he is considered to be one of the richest politicians in Nigeria. He owns several properties and businesses in Nigeria and abroad, including a mansion in Asokoro, Abuja, a hotel in Dubai, and a farm in Argentina. He also has investments in the oil and gas sector, banking, and telecommunications.