Late Nigerian billionaire Alhaji Mai Deribe who abandoned fleet of luxury cars worth billions in his Gold House has been one of the trending conversations across social media platforms.
Alhaji Mai Deribe was once Nigeria’s richest man in the 1980s and he made his fortune in oil and gas. He has multi-million dollar ($100million) gold mansion situated at Maiduguri city in Benue State, that took 10 years to complete.
The abandoned fleet of cars that few are already decaying reignited conversation about wealth, mortality and legacy. Information has it that late billionaire Alhaji Mai Deribe had 27 children and several grandchildren.
Alhaji Ahmed Mai Deribe died on March 13, 2002, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at the age of 78. He lived in the gold mansion for about 12 years before he died.
As the clip of Alhaji Mai Deribe abandoned fleet of cars that worth billions of naira hit the internet, many said that real wealth actually lies in the legacy that we live behind.
Speaking about the house, the $100 million gold mansion in Maiduguri was once regarded as the most luxurious and opulently decorated residence in Africa, and among the top twenty most extravagant properties globally. Its stunning design and grandeur have drawn numerous VIPs and prominent figures from around the world.
It also welcomed other global dignitaries, including Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, former U.S. President George W. Bush, a former Canadian Prime Minister, and several other high-profile guests.
Often likened to the Taj Mahal of India, this iconic residence stands as a symbol of elegance and prestige for the people of Borno, Nigeria, and Africa as a whole.
Construction began in the early 1980s on an expansive parcel of land. According to Alhaji Shettima Abubakar Mai Deribe, one of the late tycoon’s sons, the land is so vast that even he cannot determine its exact size.
The two-storey mansion comprises numerous rooms and apartments. Each section designated for his wives and mother includes four bedrooms and a bathroom. Additional spaces include a kitchen, quarters for domestic staff, and guest apartments.
“Honestly, I can’t tell you how many rooms or apartments are in the house,” Abubakar Deribe admitted. “Some parts appear to be large halls, but they’re actually divided spaces. You really have to walk through it yourself to appreciate the layout - apartments for our mothers, boys’ quarters, domestic staff lodgings, and visitor suites. There are just too many to count.”
He added:
“There are car parking spaces in almost every corner of this house. There’s no designated parking area for us, except for that of our late father, so everyone parks their vehicle wherever they wish. Because of the vast landscape, in the morning it looks like a car mart.”
According to reports, the furniture and household items in the palace were crafted by the renowned Italian design firm Giovanni Monzio Compagnoni (GMC), which is globally recognized for furnishing the residences of the world’s elite. Their prestigious clientele includes the late King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia, former Gabonese President Omar Bongo, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id of Oman, Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan of the UAE, and the Central Bank of Kuwait.
Abubakar Mai Deribe revealed to Daily Trust Saturday that the grand palace was constructed on the very site where the late Alhaji Ahmed Mai Deribe was born and raised, before relocating to Fezzan in Maiduguri.
The construction of this opulent residence not only immortalized the Mai Deribe name but also placed Maiduguri and Nigeria on the global map. Abubakar noted that the project, which spanned an entire decade, progressed without interruption - except on weekends - underscoring the massive investment and ambition behind the palace’s creation.
Regarding the current situation and how the palace was built, Alhaji Shettima Abubakar Ahmed Mai Deribe said: “This is the actual birthplace of our father. This place is very vast. He lived in this house for 12 years before his death. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo once spent a night here. When the palace was to be commissioned, the then Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, led a delegation of presidents to officiate the ceremony.”
Alhaji Abubakar Mai Deribe said that a billion naira was spent on the construction. “From the tiles mixed with liquid gold to the carpets, curtains, tap faucets—even the door leading to the main sitting room—all contain gold. The main entrance gate is bulletproof,” he said.
HOW DID MAI DERIBE LIVED/SURVIVED IN THE PALACE
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Alhaji Abubakar said their father was the type who never interfered in other people’s affairs. He stayed away from trouble and was very focused on his business. “But if he was confronted, then honestly, that person would meet his waterloo. Though he was easy-going in social activities and interactions, he detested dishonesty and lies,” he said
“Our father’s life, as well as that of his family, was a very interesting one, as we lived a joyous and fulfilling life with him. He wouldn’t condone recklessness or any sort of nonchalant behavior. He was very vigilant with his children. Anytime he didn’t see one of his children just after Maghrib prayer, he would ask, ‘Where is that child?’ He would always go to his office, where every one of us would go and greet him around 10 a.m. In the evening, the bachelors would dine with him, and once you’re absent, you know the consequences.”
"I was once a victim - sometime in 1996. He had gifted me a new car, and one day I came home late after Maghrib. During Isha prayer, he asked me where I had been because he hadn’t seen me at Maghrib. I told him I was home. He asked, ‘Don’t you have a wristwatch?’ I remained silent. Two days later, he called me and asked for my car keys. He instructed me to drop them on the table and leave the vicinity. That’s how he would penalize any of his children if they erred, regardless of their age. I’m fascinated by his lifestyle, which is quite astonishing in the sense that he monitored the affairs of all 27 of his children,” said Abubakar Mai Deribe.
"He left behind 27 of us, but I can’t tell you how many grandchildren he had - they’re just too many,” he said.
Addressing the rumours that IDPs have taken over the palace, Abubakar Mai Deribe said: “The IDPs are spread across the nooks and crannies of Maiduguri city. Yes, there are IDPs here, but anyone you see living in the palace is our relative. Some of them were previously living in towns and villages, but due to the Boko Haram insurgency, they had to migrate here, and we provided them with accommodation. Many of our relatives fled the Boko Haram attacks, and we are living together with them,” he said.
STATE OF THE GOLDEN PALACE
"As you know, it won’t remain in the same condition as when the late Mai Deribe built it. Even maintaining the palace is a challenge. Honestly, some parts of the palace are still intact, just as they were when it was first built, but they’ve been affected by age. You can see its condition—everyone is responsible for maintaining their section. So, if you neglect your part and allow it to decay, that’s on you. But as I mentioned earlier, its overall condition can be described as ‘fair,’” said Abubakar Mai Deribe.
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HE DIDN’T LEAVE BEHIND A WILL ON THE PALACE
When asked whether the late Mai Deribe left a will regarding the palace, Abubakar said, “As far as I know, I can’t recall him ever speaking about a will concerning this palace. You’ve seen the palace, and I can tell you he had already shared the residence among us before his demise. Everyone was given their portion. But as for this particular palace, none of us was allocated a part of it—it’s meant for all family members. We are 27 children, and we’re united. I can tell you that no one has had any issues or gone to court over the inheritance. Since he gifted everyone a portion of the residence, there was no need to discuss inheritance among the heirs. Our eldest brother’s residence, Alhaji Zanna’s, was built even while this structure was being erected, but it is not part of the palace.
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 Gold Mansion that took him 10 years to complete){kind=link}
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