Senator Mukhail Tokunbo Abiru was born in Lagos State, and having built a successful career in banking, he transitioned into politics and now serves as the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District.
Who Is Tokunbo Abiru?
Abiru is a Nigerian banker-turned-politician. He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and currently serves as the Senator for Lagos East Senatorial District. He is most known for his distinguished banking career and his “Doing Good” brand of constituency service.
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Profile Summary
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Full Name |
Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru |
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Date of Birth/Age |
25 March 1964 (Age 61 as of 2025) |
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State of Origin |
Lagos State, Nigeria |
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Local Government Area |
Ikorodu |
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Religion |
Muslim |
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Marital Status |
Married to Mrs. Feyisola (or Surat Feyisola) Abiru |
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Political Party |
All Progressives Congress (APC) |
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Current Position |
Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District; Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions; Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum |
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Years Active in Politics |
He entered the Senate via a bye-election in December 2020 |
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Net Worth (Estimated) |
Approx. US $7 million (or ₦50 billion) in some listings. |
Early Life and Education
Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru was born on 25 March 1964 in Lagos State, Nigeria. He is an indigene of Ikorodu, but he grew up in Gbagada. He attended Government College Surulere and Baptist Academy, Obanikoro. He earned a B.Sc. in Economics from Lagos State University (LASU) and, apart from his youth service in Kaduna, has spent his entire working life in Lagos State.
He is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Honorary Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). He is also an alumnus of both Lagos Business School (LBS) and Harvard Business School (USA).
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Career Before Politics
Before his entry into full-time politics, Abiru had a prominent career in banking and finance. Key points: He worked at major Nigerian banks, including roles at Guaranty Trust Bank (1991-2000) and First Bank of Nigeria Plc, where he rose to the position of Executive Director, Corporate Banking.
He also served as the Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State from 2011 to 2013, under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola. Notably, during that tenure, Lagos State floated an N80 billion bond, which won the EMEA Finance Best Local Currency Bond Award for 2012.
After his time as Commissioner, he was appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in July 2016 as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of the then-troubled Skye Bank Plc, which was subsequently rebranded as Polaris Bank Limited under his leadership during the turnaround.
He later retired from Polaris Bank, effective 31 August 2020, in preparation for contesting the Senate seat. This banking and public-finance background provided him with strong credentials for his later political role.
Political Career
Entry into Politics
In August 2020, Abiru retired from his banking post to run for election to the Senate. He contested the bye-election for the Lagos East Senatorial District under the APC platform and won in December 2020.
Major Political Roles
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Political Party: APC (has maintained this affiliation).
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Elected Senator for Lagos East in December 2020.
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In the 10th National Assembly, he was appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions.
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In March 2024, he was elected Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum, which gathers senators from the southern states of Nigeria.
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Achievements and Impact
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Legislative: He has championed bills such as the Copyright Bill, Franchise Regulation Bill, amendments to the CBN Act and NDIC Act.
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Constituency development: Through his office, he launched empowerment initiatives (e.g., a ₦300 million revolving loan for MSMEs at a 6% interest rate) and direct relief to vulnerable groups during COVID-19.
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Infrastructure & social projects: He has facilitated school renovations, health centre upgrades, and road reconstructions in Lagos East.
Personal Life
Senator Abiru is married to Mrs. Feyisola Abiru. Together they are involved in philanthropic efforts, including the “SAIL Endowment Foundation,” which runs an Innovation Lab in Ikorodu for youth training in tech and innovation. He is publicly known for his commitment to service, humility and is often described as the “Doing Good Senator”.
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Net Worth and Assets
While officially declared net worth figures are not publicly verified, several online sources estimate his net worth at approximately US $7 million (₦50 billion) as of 2025.
His wealth sources include his long banking career (in senior executive roles), political earnings, real estate investments, and business interests. Given his public service ethos, a large part of his recorded focus has been on empowerment and constituency programmes rather than ostentatious personal displays.
Notable Quotes / Public Statements
We will work together with the Northern Senators’ Forum to move the country forward.
This statement was made by Senator Abiru in March 2024, shortly after he was elected as Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum (SSF). At the time, his election was seen as a unifying move within the 10th National Assembly, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation between northern and southern lawmakers.
