EVEN as the authorities in Nigeria grapple with the expediency of legalising the much talked about state policing as a critical element in the country’s quest for federalism, let’s conclude our discussion points on the lessons we can take away from the Epstein’s Files that have been instructive to the extent of showing us that business and political leadership can’t thrive amidst impurities in their corporate governance systems.
Admittedly, we can claim in a sense that the Epstein’s Files have revealed a great deal about the global elite and the western value system. Yes, the partially released Epstein Files depicts clearly global moral hypocrisy. One of the takeaways so far is that the Epstein Files have demonstrated how moral hypocrisy transcends ideology and party differences and exposes human greed for power and influence, regardless of one’s background—whether political, financial, or academic.
And so we need to deconstruct the consequences to those not only in office and in power now but also those who would like to take over from them in Nigeria.
We should continue to remind our leaders that there is a correlation between corrupt leadership and underdevelopment in Africa.
In the same vein, we should continue to display what Shakespeare once told leaders about a culture of impunity when he noted, “Any mercy that forgives a murderer encourages murder”. That is the reason we should continue this week with the lessons from the consequences of leaders of all hues who had encounters with the villain, Epstein one way or the other. We can’t continue with monumental corruption everywhere we go in Nigeria that growth, development and respect may abound. God says He forbids that we may continue in sin that grace may abound.
So, our leaders, where are you to study this Epstein’s notebook of scandals leading people to resignations and sackings even of His Royal Majesties!
The Epstein Files just claimed the executive who interviewed Trump at Davos the other day.
Barely a month ago, Børge Brende, President and CEO of World Economic Forum interviewed US President Donald Trump following his address to government and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland, where WEF is located. The global media reported that on Thursday this week, the same president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, which organises the annual gathering in the Swiss alps, announced he was stepping down following an independent investigation into his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brende’s resignation is the latest in a string of high-profile departures linked to the publication of the so-called Epstein files, a collection of millions of emails and other documents detailing the activities of the disgraced financier.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum,” Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, said in a statement. “My time here, spanning 8½ years, has been profoundly rewarding.”
The forum launched the independent review earlier this month when it emerged that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019, as well as communicated with him via emails and text messages.
In November last year, Brende denied having any contact with Epstein but has since admitted to knowing him after their relationship came to light following the release of documents by the US Department of Justice. The WEF, which is based in Geneva, said its review had concluded “there were no additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed”.
At least one of the dinners took place at Epstein’s home in New York, emails show, just weeks before the financier was arrested on federal charges of child sex trafficking. Back in 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor and was subsequently sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In a statement earlier, after the WEF launched its probe, Brende said he had been “completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities” and would not have communicated or attended dinners with him had he known. “I recognise that I could have conducted a more thorough investigation into Epstein’s history, and I regret not doing so,” he added.
There was no indication Brende engaged in wrongdoing, but he joins a growing slate of business leaders and others who have had their careers derailed by revelations contained in the Epstein files, published by the US Justice Department since late December.
That is the tipping point I want our leaders to note: the nexus between integrity of leadership and country competiveness. And this: a culture of impunity diminishes brand reputation.
That list of victims includes Hyatt Hotels executive chairman Tom Pritzker; top Goldman Sachs lawyer Kathy Ruemmler; and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the CEO of Dubai logistics giant DP World. None have been charged with wrongdoing, anyway. In 2021, Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black and Barclays CEO Jes Staley both stepped down because of their ties to Epstein.
In the WEF statement last Thursday, the forum’s co-chairs Larry Fink and Andre Hoffmann thanked Brende for his “significant contributions” to the organisation. They also said the independent review into Brende’s ties with Epstein had now concluded and that no “additional concerns beyond what has been previously disclosed” were identified. The WEF has appointed Alois Zwinggi as interim president and CEO while the process to appoint a permanent successor is underway. This is the way to say that impurities even still being investigated can ruin reputation of even global brands and countries, hence the unconditional stepping downs even without court orders or board resolutions.
Brende’s departure comes less than a year after the WEF’s founding chairman, Klaus Schwab, stepped down under a cloud, following whistleblower allegations of misconduct. An investigation into the allegations, which concluded in August, found “no evidence of material wrongdoing” by Schwab, according to a statement from the WEF.
Earlier, it was announced that Larry Summers, the former US treasury secretary and former president of Harvard University, would resign from teaching at the end of the academic year “in connection with the ongoing review by the university of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were recently released by the government”, a Harvard spokesperson said.
Last week the billionaire Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the hotel chain Hyatt, after admitting exercising “terrible judgment” in maintaining contact with the sex offender and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls
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The scandal surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has caused significant damage to the reputations, careers, and legal standing of numerous high-profile individuals across politics, royalty, business, and academia. Following the release of millions of new documents in early 2026, the fallout has been particularly severe in Europe, though it has impacted individuals globally.
Here are some other “strong and mighty” persons who have faced, or are currently facing, consequences or intense scrutiny as of February 2026:
Royalty and Government
As I was saying last week, Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor): The British Royal was forced to relinquish his military titles and public duties in 2025 following a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he sexually abused her when she was 17. New documents in 2026 revealed further details about his relationship with Epstein, including photos of him at Epstein’s properties and invitations to Buckingham Palace.
·Thorbjørn Jagland: The former Norwegian Prime Minister and former head of the Nobel Committee was charged with “gross corruption” in February 2026 after investigations into his ties with Epstein.
Miroslav Lajcak: A Slovak diplomat and former president of the UN General Assembly resigned from his role as a National Security Adviser to the Slovakian Prime Minister after his communications with Epstein were revealed.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway: She issued a public apology after documents revealed she vacationed at an Epstein property in Palm Beach.
Ehud Barak: The former Israeli Prime Minister has faced scrutiny over his regular contact with Epstein after the 2008 conviction, including planned stays at Epstein’s New York home.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York: Faced public scrutiny for accepting payments from Epstein to settle debts and for maintaining contact with him after his initial conviction.
Business, Finance, and Academia
Peter Mandelson: as earlier noted, a prominent British Labour Party figure and former UK ambassador to the U.S. was sacked from his position in 2025 and resigned from the House of Lords in Feb 2026 after reports revealed he received payments from Epstein and maintained contact until 2016.
Howard Lutnick: CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and, as of late 2025, closely associated with Donald Trump, was revealed to have visited Epstein’s private island with his family in 2012, contradicting earlier claims that he had cut ties with him.
Jes Staley: The former Barclays chief executive resigned following investigations into his relationship with Epstein. Larry Summers: as reported last week, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard President has faced backlash and called his interactions with Epstein a “major error of judgment” after emails showed them in close contact while Epstein was under investigation.
Mona Juul: Norway’s former ambassador to Jordan resigned after revelations that Epstein left $10 million in his will to her children.
Sergey Brin: The Google co-founder is mentioned in emails planning to meet with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Others Mentioned
Ghislaine Maxwell: Epstein’s long-time associate, convicted of sex trafficking and currently serving a 20-year sentence.
Bill Clinton & Donald Trump: Both are heavily mentioned in the released documents. Clinton is noted for flying on Epstein’s jet, while Trump is mentioned thousands of times, including in emails discussing his policies and personal life. Both have denied knowing about the illegal activities.
Elon Musk: Mentioned in emails discussing potential visits to Epstein’s island, which Musk has maintained he refused.
Casey Wasserman: The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics leader faced scrutiny over “flirty” emails with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem: Dubai tycoon and chairman of DP World was replaced after reports of a friendship with Epstein.
Here is the thing, the Epstein files will continue to shed light on the hidden ecosystems through which global elites operate. Still, the files reveal how influence and power operate in global capitalism—moving through proximity, wealth, social and political networks, often beyond formal oversight.
And here is the final deliverable to African and indeed Nigerian leaders: they should note specifically, that the world would not respect our culture of impunity in any way. A situation whereby our leaders and managers at all levels in the private and public sectors are being accused of abusing public and private offices without consequences for their misdemeanor can only diminish us in the eyes of the world.
We need to note that as long as we entrench a culture of impunity here, the culture that is punishing mere association with Epstein’s filthy backgrounds won’t recommend us to foreign direct investors. May God help us to note that a culture of impunity is a reproach to any nation!
- Oloja is former editor of The Guardian newspaper and his column, Inside Stuff, runs on the back page of the newspaper on Sunday. The column appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Monday.