The
United States of America (USA) has put further dent on the recent pardon granted
former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, by seizing a
house belonging to him.
United States of America (USA) has put further dent on the recent pardon granted
former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, by seizing a
house belonging to him.
A
federal judge in the US approved the Justice Department’s forfeiture order
against the $700,000 Rockville, Maryland, house.
federal judge in the US approved the Justice Department’s forfeiture order
against the $700,000 Rockville, Maryland, house.
The
forfeiture was executed at the weekend, according to the Wall Street Journal.
forfeiture was executed at the weekend, according to the Wall Street Journal.
It said
District Judge Roger W. Titus granted the Justice Department’s motion for
default judgment against the property said to belong to Alamieyeseigha.
District Judge Roger W. Titus granted the Justice Department’s motion for
default judgment against the property said to belong to Alamieyeseigha.
Prosecutors
branded the former governor’s assets as the proceeds of corruption.
branded the former governor’s assets as the proceeds of corruption.
Alamieyeseigha
has previously denied the allegations in court filings.
has previously denied the allegations in court filings.
His
lawyer was unavailable for comment, the WSJ said. The forfeiture is said to be
part of an initiative launched by the Justice Department to seek out assets in
the U.S. linked to high-level foreign corruption.
lawyer was unavailable for comment, the WSJ said. The forfeiture is said to be
part of an initiative launched by the Justice Department to seek out assets in
the U.S. linked to high-level foreign corruption.
Alamieyeseigha
had, last year, also forfeited a $401,931 Massachusetts brokerage fund
following a motion granted by a federal district judge in Massachusetts.
had, last year, also forfeited a $401,931 Massachusetts brokerage fund
following a motion granted by a federal district judge in Massachusetts.
“Foreign
officials who think they can use the United States as a stash-house are sorely
mistaken,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman said in a statement.
officials who think they can use the United States as a stash-house are sorely
mistaken,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman said in a statement.
“Through
the Kleptocracy Initiative, we stand with the victims of foreign official
corruption as we seek to forfeit the proceeds of corrupt leaders’ illegal
activities.”
the Kleptocracy Initiative, we stand with the victims of foreign official
corruption as we seek to forfeit the proceeds of corrupt leaders’ illegal
activities.”
Alamieyeseigha
was jailed for two years in 2007 for failing to declare assets in Nigeria,
South Africa and the U.S. Prosecutors said he bought more than $8 million in
properties with bribes he received from contractors while serving as governor.
He pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he
controlled—Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina
Investment Corp.
was jailed for two years in 2007 for failing to declare assets in Nigeria,
South Africa and the U.S. Prosecutors said he bought more than $8 million in
properties with bribes he received from contractors while serving as governor.
He pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he
controlled—Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina
Investment Corp.
The
former governor had last year, also forfeited a $401,931 Massachusetts
brokerage fund following a motion granted by a federal district judge in
Massachusetts.
former governor had last year, also forfeited a $401,931 Massachusetts
brokerage fund following a motion granted by a federal district judge in
Massachusetts.
President
Goodluck Jonathan granted Alamieyeseigha an unconditional pardon in March,
sparking outrage.
Goodluck Jonathan granted Alamieyeseigha an unconditional pardon in March,
sparking outrage.
The
Presidency defended its action, saying Alamieyeseigha had shown remorse.
Presidency defended its action, saying Alamieyeseigha had shown remorse.
The
former governor himself said he deserved the pardon having helped in bringing
about peace in an otherwise restive Niger Delta region.
former governor himself said he deserved the pardon having helped in bringing
about peace in an otherwise restive Niger Delta region.
The
home in Rockville, a suburb of Washington, D.C., is owned by Solomon &
Peters Ltd., a shelf company controlled by Alamieyeseigha, according to court
papers. The Justice Department and Alamieyeseigha offered drastically different
accounts of how the house came to be in his possession.
home in Rockville, a suburb of Washington, D.C., is owned by Solomon &
Peters Ltd., a shelf company controlled by Alamieyeseigha, according to court
papers. The Justice Department and Alamieyeseigha offered drastically different
accounts of how the house came to be in his possession.
A
Justice Department spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about
whether or not the funds would be returned to Nigeria.
Justice Department spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about
whether or not the funds would be returned to Nigeria.
Source: The Nation
