CAC Registrar-General Magaji’s display of lavish lifestyle, private jet raises concern

Nigeria’s Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Ishaq Hussaini Magaji, has come under public scrutiny following a series of social media posts.

The posts showed him travelling in a private jet and publicly acknowledging hospitality from a private foundation, amid unresolved questions about ethics, disclosure, and accountability.

The controversy follows an earlier report by major media outlets which raised concerns about his conduct.

Rather than issuing a formal clarification or institutional response, the CAC Registrar-General subsequently made a public post announcing his presence at the 2025 United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties in Doha, Qatar, alongside the heads of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“Proud to represent Nigeria at the 2025 UNCAC Conference of the States Parties, alongside my colleagues, the EFCC boss and ICPC boss,” Magaji wrote on social media.

The post, made days after the allegations surfaced, has intensified debate online, with critics interpreting it as a display of political and institutional proximity rather than a response to the issues raised.

The scrutiny centres on videos earlier posted by Magaji himself. In the footage, he is seen boarding and travelling on a private jet. Text overlaid on the video reads: “Thank you Emeka Ufor Foundation.”

Additional clips show airport handling arrangements and convoy-style movement.

In a separate post, Magaji appeared at a traditional ceremony in South-East Nigeria alongside businessman Sir Emeka Offor, with the caption, “Sir, Emeka Ufor and RG.”

The posts have raised questions about whether a serving public official could received private benefits from an individual or foundation with potential interests in Nigeria’s corporate regulatory system.

The Corporate Affairs Commission oversees company registration, trusteeship and foundation records, beneficial ownership disclosures, and corporate filings across sectors including oil and gas, banking, procurement, and other strategically sensitive industries.

Governance experts note that officials in such positions are expected to avoid not only conflicts of interest, but also appearances of undue influence or benefit.

The CAC has neither issued clarification on the videos nor has there been any disclosure of who funded the private jet travel.

No confirmation has been made regarding whether official approvals were obtained.

No oversight or investigative body has announced a review or inquiry.
Neither the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, which supervises the CAC, nor the Presidency has addressed the matter.

Observers say the absence of official responses has fuelled speculation and weakened public confidence, particularly given the anti-corruption commitments Nigeria presents on international platforms such as the UNCAC.

Some analysts have also expressed concern about the optics of senior regulators appearing publicly alongside heads of enforcement agencies during periods of controversy, warning that such displays may undermine perceptions of independence and accountability.

“Anti-corruption systems depend not only on laws, but on public trust that no official is beyond scrutiny,” one governance advocate told this publication.

Civil society groups and commentators are now calling for clear disclosure to address the controversy.

They argue that if no rules were violated, a transparent explanation would quickly resolve the issue.

“If nothing improper occurred, the facts should be placed on record,” one anti-corruption campaigner said. “Silence only deepens suspicion.”

As questions continue to mount, the episode has renewed debate about ethical standards for senior public officials and the broader challenge of enforcing accountability at the highest levels of Nigeria’s public service.