Newly released documents have revealed email correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and a businessman identified as David Stern, discussing a potential business deal involving Nigerian crude oil.
The documents, obtained by Premium Times, are part of a large cache released by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In an email dated September 20, 2010, Stern informed Epstein of what he described as an opportunity to make millions of dollars by brokering or “flipping” Nigerian oil.
According to the email, a person identified only as “PA” suggested that Stern meet individuals with access to buy Nigerian crude and resell it to China or other buyers, with an estimated profit of $6 million.
“PA has asked me to see a guy who has access to Nigerian oil, and when selling it to China (or somebody else), F. can make around $6m,” Stern wrote.
However, Stern expressed reservations about the deal.
“This seems very fishy (as my boss JEE would say),” he added.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has long battled with opacity in its oil industry, where crude is frequently diverted and traded illegally. Efforts by successive governments to improve transparency have achieved limited success, with the national oil company, NNPC Limited, only recently beginning to publish audited accounts.
The Epstein–Stern exchange is one of several instances in the released files where Nigeria featured in discussions involving Epstein and members of his wealthy network.
Epstein, Nigeria and Jonathan-era contact
In another 2010 email, George Reenstra, founder of Aircraft Service Group, informed Epstein of an urgent trip to Nigeria to meet with then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
“I unexpectedly must leave this evening for Nigeria. I have tried hard to delay this trip but it is with the country President and I have no alternative,” Reenstra wrote on September 27, 2010, four months after Jonathan assumed office.
There is, however, no confirmation that the meeting eventually took place.
Reenstra also told Epstein that documents relating to a separate transaction had been handed to his business partner, Jon Parker, to finalise while he was away.
Emails with global power brokers
The newly released files contain extensive correspondence between Epstein and influential political, business and royal figures before his death in July 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The documents reference interactions with former US President Donald Trump, who has acknowledged knowing Epstein but insists he severed ties years earlier.
Other names mentioned include former US President Bill Clinton, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
One email showed Epstein inviting Prince Andrew to dine at Buckingham Palace, while another offered to introduce the prince to a 26-year-old Russian woman. Despite Prince Andrew’s previous claim that he had no contact with Epstein after December 2010, emails indicate communication continued into February 2011.
Musk, Lutnick, Bannon appear in files
Elon Musk’s name appears in email exchanges between 2012 and 2013 discussing visits to Epstein’s Caribbean island. Musk later said Epstein “tried repeatedly” to get him to visit the island, an invitation he said he declined.
The files also indicate that US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick arranged a visit to Epstein’s island in 2012.
In addition, Epstein exchanged friendly emails with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. In a January 2019 message, Epstein asked if Bannon had received an Apple Watch sent to him as a Christmas gift, later inviting him to New York.
