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Ex-NNPC official faces 25 years in US prison over $2.1m fraud

Published

4 months ago

September 3, 2025

Ex-NNPC official faces 25 years in US prison over $2.1m fraud

A former senior staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, has been convicted in the United States over a multi-million-dollar bribery scheme tied to oil deals.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, Okoronkwo, a 58-year-old lawyer, was found guilty of, three counts of transactional money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice.

The case, which centers on a $2.1 million bribery scandal linked to Addax Petroleum, a Swiss subsidiary of Sinopec, exposed how illicit payments were allegedly funneled through oil transactions involving Nigerian operations.

His sentencing has been fixed for December 1, 2025.

Court documents revealed that in October 2015, Okoronkwo allegedly received $2,105,263 into his law firm’s account from Addax Petroleum.

The payment was presented as consultancy fees for negotiating a settlement agreement with the NNPC concerning Addax’s drilling rights in Nigeria.

However, US prosecutors said the “consultancy” was nothing more than a ruse to disguise a bribe. The so-called engagement letter between Addax and Okoronkwo’s firm, which listed a fake Lagos address was described as an attempt to cover up the illicit transaction.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) stressed that the payment was in exchange for Okoronkwo’s influence in securing favourable oil agreements in Nigeria.

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Beyond the bribery scheme, prosecutors accused Okoronkwo of deliberately omitting the $2.1 million bribe from his 2015 federal income tax return, constituting tax evasion.

He was also convicted of obstructing justice after allegedly making efforts to mislead investigators and conceal the origin of the funds.

The DoJ said his actions amounted to an orchestrated financial crime that undermined both Nigerian and US anti-corruption laws.

Okoronkwo’s troubles began in January 2024, when he was indicted by a US federal grand jury on five counts, including money laundering, tax evasion, and obstruction of justice.

Back in Nigeria, the former NNPCL official had already faced backlash over his involvement in questionable oil deals.

According to Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Okoronkwo was dismissed by NNPC after the scandal came to light.

Ahmad disclosed in a May 2024 tweet that Okoronkwo had been a general manager in the upstream department of NNPC and was part of a team that, on May 25, 2015 just days before former President Goodluck Jonathan left office finalised a controversial agreement with Addax Petroleum.

That deal, Ahmad claimed, cost Nigeria a staggering $2.4 billion.

Okoronkwo’s conviction underscores growing scrutiny of corrupt deals struck during the final days of Jonathan’s administration.

If the court imposes the maximum penalty, Okoronkwo could spend up to 25 years in an American prison, closing a chapter on one of the most high-profile cases linking Nigeria’s oil industry to international bribery.

Ex-NNPC official faces 25 years in US prison over $2.1m fraud

(Punch)

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Borno: Troops Foil Suicide Attack, Arrest Bomber, Seize IED Materials

Published

17 minutes ago

December 30, 2025

Trends Admin

Army headquarters reviews troops combat readiness

Borno: Troops Foil Suicide Attack, Arrest Bomber, Seize IED Materials

Barely days after a deadly suicide bomb attack at Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, which claimed the lives of several worshippers, troops of the Joint Task Force North East (JTF NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have recorded another major operational breakthrough with the arrest of a suspected suicide bomber and the interception of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) materials in Borno State.

The successful operation followed sustained intelligence-led security operations aimed at securing Banki town in Bama Local Government Area, carried out by troops of the 152 Task Force Battalion, in collaboration with other security agencies.

In a statement issued Tuesday night by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, it was revealed that the suspect was apprehended at the Banki Central Mosque.

“At about 1740 hours on Monday, December 29, 2025, troops deployed at Banki Central Mosque arrested a suspected suicide bomber identified as Abubakar Mustapha,” the statement said.

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According to the military, the suspect was found in possession of primed IED components, suggesting an imminent terror attack. Preliminary investigations revealed that Mustapha hails from Bama Local Government Area and was further discovered to be in possession of other incriminating items linked to terrorist activities.

“He is currently undergoing detailed interrogation to establish his sponsors, collaborators, and possible links with JAS/ISWAP terrorist networks operating in the area,” Uba added.

In a related development, troops deployed at the Cameroon–Nigeria border gate intercepted a Peugeot vehicle conveying six bags of urea fertiliser, a critical IED precursor material. The vehicle and the fertiliser were immediately taken into military custody.

Further intelligence exploitation led to the arrest of the fertiliser dealer and the recovery of an additional six bags of urea, bringing the total seized to 12 bags. All suspects and recovered items are currently in custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Lt. Col. Uba said troops of JTF NE OPHK continue to dominate their areas of responsibility through aggressive patrols, sustained presence, and intelligence-driven operations to deny terrorists freedom of action and prevent attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.

He assured the public that the morale and fighting efficiency of troops remain high, reaffirming the military’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and security in North East Nigeria.

The military also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies in support of ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

Borno: Troops Foil Suicide Attack, Arrest Bomber, Seize IED Materials

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VIDEO: Oshodi Traders Count Losses as Fire Ravages Army Arena Market in Lagos

Published

25 minutes ago

December 30, 2025

Trends Admin

VIDEO: Oshodi Traders Count Losses as Fire Ravages Army Arena Market in Lagos

Traders at the Army Arena Market in Oshodi, Lagos State, were thrown into panic on Tuesday evening following a fire outbreak that engulfed sections of the busy commercial hub, destroying several shops and goods.

The incident was confirmed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) through its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. LASTMA disclosed that emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene to contain the inferno.

“There’s a fire outbreak inside Arena Shopping Mall along Agege Motor Road, Oshodi. Men of @LagosRescue are on ground to extinguish the inferno,” the agency stated.

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Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly through parts of the market, forcing traders and customers to flee for safety as thick smoke billowed into the sky. Several container shops were reportedly razed, with traders lamenting the loss of valuable merchandise, including textiles, electronics, and household goods.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside other emergency agencies, worked to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining sections of the market and nearby buildings. As of the time of filing this report, no casualties had been officially confirmed, while the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.

The latest incident has renewed concerns over frequent fire outbreaks in Lagos markets, particularly in densely populated commercial centres such as Oshodi, where traders have repeatedly called for improved fire safety measures, better electrical standards, and faster emergency response.

Oshodi Traders Count Losses as Fire Ravages Army Arena Market in Lagos

Wike | Sina Ghami | #NIGUGA | Accident | Diogo Jota | #โดมปกรณ์ลัม | Anthony Joshua pic.twitter.com/UrFd9MZnt1

— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) December 30, 2025

VIDEO: Oshodi Traders Count Losses as Fire Ravages Army Arena Market in Lagos

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Two Catholic Priests Stabbed in Nasarawa Parish Attack Near Abuja

Published

2 hours ago

December 30, 2025

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Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed

Two Catholic Priests Stabbed in Nasarawa Parish Attack Near Abuja

ABUJA – Two Catholic priests were brutally attacked by bandits at the Parish House of St. Rita Catholic Church, Unity Estate, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, near the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), raising fresh alarms over worsening security challenges in the region.

The assailants reportedly stormed the parish residence around 2:30 a.m., stabbing the priests and leaving them in pools of blood. The Parish Priest narrowly escaped unharmed.

The victims were identified as Rev. Fr. Comas Baye, the priest in residence and a Cadet of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and Rev. Fr. Chris Pever, a visiting priest and former Assistant Priest of the parish. Fr. Baye is reported to be battling a partial stroke.

Both priests were rushed to Nativity Catholic Hospital, Jikwoyi, Abuja, for urgent medical attention. Fr. Pever sustained severe injuries, including a fracture of his left arm, and successfully underwent surgical implant surgery. Both are now stable and responding to treatment.

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Knights of St. John React

The Abuja Grand Commandery of the Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI) condemned the attack, describing it as a “heinous, barbaric, and reprehensible assault” on innocent clergy and a disturbing sign of growing insecurity around Abuja and neighbouring states.

In a statement signed by Brig. Gen. Francis Ulonna Njoku (Grand President) and Col. Etta Peters (Grand Secretary), the KSJI said the attack was part of a troubling pattern targeting places of worship and religious leaders.

The Knights urged relevant security agencies to investigate the attack, apprehend the perpetrators, and ensure swift justice, while calling on all levels of government to strengthen security around religious institutions and communities.

The statement also expressed solidarity with the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, the clergy, and the faithful of St. Rita Catholic Church, offering prayers for healing, protection, and lasting peace.