Here is the full statement issued Friday by US Justice Department
on its plans to recover assets owned by Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore,
being proceeds of fraud against Nigeria’s state oil company under the
watch of Diezani Alison-Madueke…
The Department of Justice announced today the filing of a civil
complaint seeking the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $144
million in assets that are allegedly the proceeds of foreign corruption
offenses and were laundered in and through the U.S. Acting Assistant
Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco, Assistant Director in Charge Andrew
W. Vale of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Assistant Director Stephen
E. Richardson of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Chief
Don Fort of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the
announcement.
According to the complaint, from 2011 to 2015, Nigerian businessmen
Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore conspired with others to pay
bribes to Nigeria’s former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani
Alison-Madueke, who oversaw Nigeria’s state-owned oil company. In return
for these improper benefits, Alison-Madueke used her influence to steer
lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore. The
complaint alleges that the proceeds of those illicitly awarded contracts
were then laundered in and through the U.S. and used to purchase
various assets subject to seizure and forfeiture, including a $50
million condominium located in one of Manhattan’s most expensive
buildings – 157 W. 57th Street – and the Galactica Star, an $80 million
yacht.
“The United States is not a safe haven for the proceeds of
corruption,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. “The
complaint announced today demonstrates the Department’s commitment to
working with our law enforcement partners around the globe to trace and
recover the proceeds of corruption, no matter the source. Corrupt
foreign officials and business executives should make no mistake: if
illicit funds are within the reach of the United States, we will seek to
forfeit them and to return them to the victims from whom they were
stolen.”
“Business executives who engage in bribery and illegal pay-offs in
order to obtain contracts create an uneven marketplace where honest
competitor companies are put at a disadvantage,” said Assistant Director
Vale. “Along with the Department of Justice, international law
enforcement partners and other U.S. federal agencies, the FBI is
committed to pursuing all those who attempt to advance their businesses
through corrupt practices.”
“Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the
remarkable work conducted by a group of dedicated investigators,
attorneys and international partners who were committed to leaving no
stone unturned in this case targeting international corruption,” said
Assistant Director Richardson. “This case demonstrates that the FBI will
not tolerate American institutions and property being used to launder
proceeds of foreign corruption and today’s filing is an important step
towards recovering identified funds. This should serve as a warning to
other corrupt foreign officials that the United States is not open for
their business.”
“Today’s actions are the direct result of our agents following the
money and unmasking corruption and greed,” said Chief Fort. “Working
with our law enforcement partners, IRS-CI will continue to investigate
and unravel these complex financial transactions.”
The government alleges that Aluko, Omokore and others funded a lavish
lifestyle for Alison-Madueke. According to the allegations, they
conspired to purchase millions of dollars in real estate in and around
London for Alison-Madueke and her family members, then renovated and
furnished these homes with millions of dollars in furniture, artwork and
other luxury items purchased at two Houston-area furniture stores at
Alison-Madueke’s direction. In return, the government alleges
Alison-Madueke used her influence to direct a subsidiary of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation to award Strategic Alliance Agreements
(SAAs) to two shell companies created by Aluko and Omokore: Atlantic
Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Ltd. and Atlantic Energy Brass
Development Ltd. (the Atlantic Companies). Under the SAAs, the Atlantic
Companies were required to finance the exploration and production
operations of eight on-shore oil and gas blocks. In return for financing
these operations, the companies expected to receive a portion of the
oil and gas produced. However, according to the complaint, the Atlantic
Companies provided only a fraction of the agreed upon financing or, in
some instances, failed entirely to provide it. The companies also failed
to meet other obligations under the SAAs, including the payment of $120
million entry fee. Nevertheless, according to the allegations, the
companies were permitted to lift and sell more than $1.5 billion worth
of Nigerian crude oil. The government contends the Atlantic Companies
then used a series of shell companies and intermediaries to launder a
portion of the total proceeds of these arrangements into and through the
U.S.
A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or
property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These
allegations are not proven until a court awards judgment in favor of the
U.S.
The FBI’s International Corruption Squads in Washington, D.C. and Los
Angeles and the IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys
Stephen A. Gibbons and Michael W. Khoo of the Criminal Division’s Money
Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are prosecuting the case. The
Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs is providing
substantial assistance.
This case was brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery
Initiative. This initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in
the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, in
partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S.
Attorney’s Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official
corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to
benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of
office.
In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the
country to address national and international implications of foreign
corruption. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of
foreign corruption located in or laundered through the U.S. should
contact federal law enforcement or send an email to
kleptocracy@usdoj.gov (link sends e-mail) or https://tips.fbi.gov/.
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