DOJ Executes Forfeiture on US Assets of Former Nigerian GovBy C.M. Matthews

The Department of Justice executed a forfeiture order Thursday on $401,931 in a Massachusetts brokerage fund traceable to an allegedly corrupt former Nigerian governor.

The forfeiture was the first victory for a fledgling Justice Department initiative dedicated to seeking out assets in the U.S. linked to high-level foreign corruption.

Prosecutors filed court papers in April 2011 targeting a $600,000 Maryland home and a Massachusetts brokerage account belonging to Diepreye Peter Solomon Alamieyeseigha, governor of Nigeria’s oil-producing Bayelsa State from 1999 to 2005. According to prosecutors, Alamieyeseigha’s assets were the proceeds of corruption. Alamieyeseigha denied the allegations in court filings.

Earlier this month, a federal district judge in Massachusetts granted a motion for default judgment and civil forfeiture on the brokerage account. Prosecutors executed the forfeiture order Thursday.

“With a declared income of less than $250,000, Mr. Alamieyeseigha accumulated millions of dollars worth of property over a six-year period,” Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said in a news release. “Today’s announcement – the first forfeiture judgment obtained under our Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative – sends a powerful message about the United States’ commitment to rooting out corruption far and wide.”

A Nigerian court sentenced Alamieyeseigha to two years in prison 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. Alamieyeseigha also pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he controlled — Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina Investment Corp.

In 2006, the High Court of Justice in London found that three of Alamieyeseigha’s properties there, as well as accounts held by Santolina, represented bribe money or were traceable to bribes Alamieyeseigha took from contractors in Nigeria. After he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2005, police found about $1.6 million in cash in his house.

A lawyer for Alamieyeseigha didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

In civil forfeiture cases, the Justice Department can file complaints in federal court against property, rather than individuals, linked to foreign corruption. The forfeiture against Alamieyeseigha’s Maryland house is pending in federal court in Maryland.

The Justice Department didn’t say where the forfeited funds would be directed. According to the news release, “where appropriate [the Justice Department will] return those proceeds to benefit those harmed.” A Justice Department spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about whether or not the funds would be returned to Nigeria.

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/us-department-justice-executes-forfeiture-us-assets-former-bayelsa-gov-dsp-alamieyesigha
http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2012/06/28/doj-executes-forfeiture-on-us-assets-of-former-nigerian-gov/

What does it profit a GOVERNOR to steal his state's money and end up in prison like a common criminal?

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.

jamace: What does it profit a GOVERNOR to steal his state's money and end up in prison like a common criminal?

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.

Worthless paper

A Nigerian court sentenced Alamieyeseigha to two years in prison 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. Alamieyeseigha also pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he controlled — Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina Investment Corp.


1. Is only international courts that are very effective in fishing out corrupted Nigerians. All the agencies in Nigeria administering corrupt criminals are meant for increasing corruption.
2. If Alamieyeseigha could be sentenced to 2 years in prison what should happen to GEJ that turns declaring assets to joke.

jamace: What does it profit a GOVERNOR to steal his state's money and end up in prison like a common criminal?

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.

My broda, I tire ooo!

I dey laff for Italian

miteolu:
A Nigerian court sentenced Alamieyeseigha to two years in prison 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. Alamieyeseigha also pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he controlled — Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina Investment Corp.


1. Is only international courts that are very effective in fishing out corrupted Nigerians. All the agencies in Nigeria administering corrupt criminals are meant for increasing corruption.
2. If Alamieyeseigha could be sentenced to 2 years in prison what should happen to GEJ that turns declaring assets to joke.

Spot on... I'm waiting for the brainwashed followers to come n twist this to their advantage

Train up a child in the right way and in the way of the Lord, so that when he becomes an adult, he will not bring shame and disgrace to his family name. Contentment with Godliness is great gain.

you people should stop abusing senior special adviser on LOOTING to SIR/DR/ MAN OF GOD GOOD-LUCK EBELE AZIKWE JONATHAN (GEJ) The president and fonder of freshair Nigeria Ltd,we must learn how to respect them since they are our current leaders by the way the amount mentioned is token to him.

You want to learn more of Nigerian corruption?
Listen to Assignment on BBC World Service
Title : The king of corruption.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00trr9w

Titbits:
"A nation that celebrates corruption"
" he was throwing around fifty pounds note like confetti "
" every staff of the hotel that was fortunate to pass infront of his room was just giving money"

Obasanjo finished, in fact eviscerated this man. Obasanjo walks around today as if nothing happened.

miteolu:
A Nigerian court sentenced Alamieyeseigha to two years in prison 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. Alamieyeseigha also pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he controlled — Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina Investment Corp.


1. Is only international courts that are very effective in fishing out corrupted Nigerians. All the agencies in Nigeria administering corrupt criminals are meant for increasing corruption.
2. If Alamieyeseigha could be sentenced to 2 years in prison what should happen to GEJ that turns declaring assets to joke.

watin be ur problem with declaration of gej asset sef, the man don declare b4, wch 1 b ur own? They are talking about nigeria's wealth being forfieted in another man's country,because of a greed, wicked man, u r here talking abt gej's asset. Oruvwe...

GEJ learnt very well frm his Oga,Dis man should b sentenced Τ̅☺ life imprisonment, all dis thieving politicians, ​A̶̲̥̅̊я̲̅ε̲̣̣̣̥ †ђξ real enemy O̶̷̩̥̊͡F Nigeria, D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ kil more dan Boko Haram

@ '600 pound gorilla'!! hahahahahahahahahahahahah!! *blows whistle calling on Bingo Beaf to come bark at his owner's attackers so they cld back off and in the process I lost my grip and fall of the cashew tree*

miteolu:
A Nigerian court sentenced Alamieyeseigha to two years in prison 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. Alamieyeseigha also pleaded guilty to money laundering on behalf of two companies he controlled — Solomon & Peters Ltd. and Alamieyeseigha and Santolina Investment Corp.


1. Is only international courts that are very effective in fishing out corrupted Nigerians. All the agencies in Nigeria administering corrupt criminals are meant for increasing corruption.
2. If Alamieyeseigha could be sentenced to 2 years in prison what should happen to GEJ that turns declaring assets to joke.

The president or vice can only declare his or her assets before sworing in and after tenure so as to contrast and compare the difference btw them and not when he is in office. So GEJ would declare his asset by 2015, afterall he declared it when he was vice with yar'adua. But if he is to declare it now in office then all other govt officials MUST do so, period.

norseman2: GEJ learnt very well frm his Oga,Dis man should b sentenced Τ̅☺ life imprisonment, all dis thieving politicians, ​A̶̲̥̅̊я̲̅ε̲̣̣̣̥ †ђξ real enemy O̶̷̩̥̊͡F Nigeria, D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥ kil more dan Boko Haram

Merry sailing skipper!

Thats good...btw is the ex-governor imprisonrd yet?

jamace: What does it profit a GOVERNOR to steal his state's money and end up in prison like a common criminal?

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.

Ask Beaf.

Its bayasa'state money they should return it 2 them

one by one

wow

yea

Na wetin bring GEj matter for forfeiture of DSP cash and properties for america now
Can't u guys ever make a statement without including the president's name?

Yet this man still wines and dines with the power that be, what a shame.

Yet only two have we seen being dealt with in this manner.

We should be ashamed of ourself. Only the name has negative impact in whatever we do abroad. Selfish Leaders. GEJ must step down. Silent Fool.

Assignment on BBC World Service
Title : The king of corruption. ( Estimated loot 2Billion dollars)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00trr9w

Titbits:
"A nation that celebrates corruption"
" he was throwing around fifty pounds note like confetti "
" every staff of the hotel that was fortunate to pass infront of his room was just giving money"

Is it not the same Alams that seats beside Jona at events?

Honestly, it will be difficult to save this nation Nigeria from endemic corruption. I just don't see that ever happening, because there are millions of people who cheer for these looters, even here on Nairaland, people defend the inactivity of president Jonathan, hail the rambles of Obasanjo, and so many others. How can it be? Why should anyone be proud of the state of Nigeria? Why should people hail these scumbags? Forget the photos of Victoria Island, lekki, ikoyi etc., the rest of the country is a mess.

You want to learn more of Nigerian corruption?
Listen to Assignment on BBC World Service
Title : The king of corruption.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00trr9w

Titbits:
"A nation that celebrates corruption"
" he was throwing around fifty pounds note like confetti "
" every staff of the hotel that was fortunate to pass infront of his room was just giving money"

That amounts to $1M . As we know, with his standing in the current Nigerian Government, he can afford to raise tens of that amount with a mere 2 minute phone call.

Slizbeat:

The president or vice can only declare his or her assets before sworing in and after tenure so as to contrast and compare the difference btw them and not when he is in office. So GEJ would declare his asset by 2015, afterall he declared it when he was vice with yar'adua. But if he is to declare it now in office then all other govt officials MUST do so, period.

your unintelligence is apparent.i have read with dismay the i.diotic posture by some people that GEJ declared his assets as vice president and doesnt need to do so agan.the constituition is clear on that.
section 140 of the constituion says "a person elected to the office of president shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this constituition and he has taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed in the seventh schedule to this constituition"
was jonathan elected in 2011 or not?people just want to assume what the constituition says.you should try to get a copy and probably read it once in a while

jamace: What does it profit a GOVERNOR to steal his state's money and end up in prison like a common criminal?

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.

well said brova

Judgement after how many years?