By Ayo Kehinde
Convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak allegedly exploited Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram to gain entry into the country’s oil, port, and logistics sectors, using counterterrorism cooperation and surveillance technology as a pathway to lucrative commercial deals, an investigation has revealed.
According to findings by Drop Site News (DSN), emails released by the United States Department of Justice show that Epstein and Barak viewed instability in Nigeria and other conflict zones as a commercial opportunity.
The correspondence details how Israeli-linked security systems described as “field-proven” — a term associated with technology tested in the occupied Palestinian territory — were pitched to Nigerian officials amid the Boko Haram insurgency.
The investigation indicates that the conflict with Boko Haram provided a critical foothold.
As Nigerian authorities sought solutions to mounting security threats, Epstein and Barak promoted surveillance and biometric tools as counterterrorism measures, while simultaneously positioning themselves to access strategic sectors of the economy, including energy, ports, and infrastructure.
The emails reviewed by DSN suggest that security cooperation often served as a gateway to broader business interests.
Epstein facilitated high-level talks involving the Emirati logistics giant DP World, aimed at securing ownership or control of ports in Lagos and Badagry.
These disclosures come just days after DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem resigned on February 13, 2026, following intense scrutiny over his links to Epstein.
The documents also show Barak’s involvement in Israeli surveillance firms marketing biometric systems to Nigerian institutions. In 2015, Barak invested $15 million in FST Biometrics, whose technology was originally developed to monitor Palestinian movement.
Similar equipment was later sold to Babcock University, where it was publicly framed as a counterterrorism solution designed to screen out “unwanted persons.”
By 2020, the correspondence indicates that Israeli cyber-expertise had become embedded within Nigeria’s digital security framework.
The World Bank reportedly engaged Israel’s National Cyber Directorate and a startup co-founded by Barak to help shape Nigeria’s national cyber-infrastructure.
The emails further reveal the level of political access enjoyed by Epstein and Barak.
In 2013, Barak attended a cybersecurity conference in Abuja that organisers privately described as a platform to arrange meetings with then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Following those engagements, Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems moved ahead with a controversial internet surveillance project in Nigeria, despite opposition from lawmakers.
Correspondence also shows Epstein advising Barak on how to convert security relationships into personal financial gain, including potential oil deals.
Barak has since expressed regret over his association with Epstein but insists he was unaware of the full extent of Epstein’s crimes until investigations expanded in 2019.
The revelations have reignited concerns over how Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges have been leveraged by foreign actors to access strategic national assets, raising renewed questions about transparency, sovereignty, and oversight in security-driven commercial partnerships.
