US to confiscate assets with alleged links to former Dominican diplomat

Alison-Madueke was a Dominican diplomat. Photo: AP

Officials in the US have said they plan to confiscate US$144-million in what has been described as “corruption-tainted assets of Nigerian oil executives.”

A report by the AFP said the assets are tied to “dirty contracts” awarded by former Nigeria Oil Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who also was a diplomat of Dominica.

“The United States is not a safe haven for the proceeds of corruption,” acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco was quoted as saying.

According to the AFP report, the assets include a $80 million yacht the “Galactica Star” and $50 million condominium overlooking New York’s famed Central Park.

A statement by the US Justice State Department said the contracts were awarded by Alison-Madueke between 2011 and 2015.

“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,” Blanco said.

The AFP said assets were purchased using proceeds of oil sector contracts awarded by Alison-Madueke, who oversaw the state oil company.

Prosecutors allege she accepted bribes from oil executives Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore, who spent millions of dollars buying and furnishing London-area homes with artwork, furniture and other luxury items acquired in Texas, according to the AFP.

“The minister allegedly steered lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore, which sold $1.5 billion worth of Nigerian crude,” the AFP report said. “They then used shell corporations and intermediaries to launder the funds through US banks and buy the assets which the Justice Department is now seeking to seize.”

Alison-Madueke received Dominican citizenship on May 29, 2015 and was appointed Dominica’s Trade and Investment Commissioner and given a diplomatic passport, with the number DP0000445.

When she was arrested, several media reports said that the former minister was attempting to flee to Dominica because of her citizenship.

However, the government said there was no truth to the “rumor” and said all ties with Alison-Madueke were severed in October, 2015.

It also said she was appointed Trade and Investment Commissioner for Dominica after “due diligence.”

 

 

 

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39 Comments

  1. Dominica
    July 18, 2017

    These politicians continue to make greed blind them to their demise. I guess she will enjoy the idea that she once had luxurious homes in London and New York. While their people remain poor and needy they bathe themselves in riches… they just can’t have enough.

  2. Affa
    July 18, 2017

    That’s how many of them have screwed African countries and Africa on a whole, long after white man left them to care for their own people. Sick, all of them officials sick, backward and stupid for doing this to a whole continent of their own people. Each of them lined up to take The Peoples’ wealth as their own. Sickening!

  3. YungMusician
    July 18, 2017

    The properties that are being seized do not belong to her, but the oil executives. Why make this article about her? It is being said that she steered contracts their way. The Americans do the very same thing with all their lobby groups on capitol hill. Even influencing changes in laws.

    • Lang Mama
      July 18, 2017

      It is called kickbacks yung… That too is a crime and kickbacks is the mother if corruption. Politicians don’t deep their hands in the treasury. What they do is a route money away from treasury into areas where they have access.

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      July 18, 2017

      I endorse what you stated. It may be that some of them ignore it, are not well-read and heard very little, if nothing at all about these Americans.
      Heard today, due to the loss of millions of dollars, the Canadian government wants to close the loopholes that cause some who own businesses to make it a private one, steering some of their assets to family in order to avoid paying taxes.
      You can say some people of the world are crooked, right here in this country of Canada. They also save their money in foreign banks. I cannot wait to see the outcome of this. We will hear more.
      Oh and it was stated that these rich people pay less taxes than average Canadians. We knew this all along. This is why it is stated, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
      I hope something constructive comes out of this.

  4. marie-claire R Skerrit
    July 18, 2017

    So does that mean those in Dominica who has ties to corrupted monies that US to confiscate assets? That needs to be done.

  5. SMH
    July 18, 2017

    A lot of you Dominicans will remain ignorant! Forget DNO and go research on your own, and you will find the information that you seek.

  6. Ibo France
    July 18, 2017

    Nigeria is a cesspool of corrupt practices. Bribery, fraud, chicanery and blackmail are staples. Any government doing business with Nigerian officials should check these people’s background under the most powerful microscope. For the Skerrit’s government to provide this lady with a diplomatic passport without the strictest due diligence is akin to treason against the Dominican people. Every right thinking citizen of Dominica should take umbrage at this colossal lapse in judgment by Skerrit and his band of lackeys.

    • Nigeria, Great Country
      July 19, 2017

      Nigeria is an oil-rich country which was deliberately destablished by the CIA so the the US could continue to plunder its oil reserves. They did the same thing in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan and are trying hard to do the same for Iran. Do you honestly believe that these so-called ‘Nigerian’ scams came from Nigeria??? No, no, no, your good ole CIA did all of that and tarnished the country good and proper by a campaign of disinformation and setup. Nigeria is not more corrupt than the USA when elected politicians with no money when they came into office, leave as multi-millionaires and no one bats an eye.

  7. John Doe
    July 18, 2017

    I hope the former Dominican Ambassador, serving as a senior advisor to the disgraced Antiguan UN Ambassador (now RIP) will, by virtue of his association with the deceased UN Antiguan ambassador, also be similarly accorded a negative report by association

  8. ema
    July 17, 2017

    Interesting read which should be followed closely with no bias. Let the chips fall where they may.

  9. Laplaine Observer
    July 17, 2017

    There are some apologists in here defending this woman and pointing the finger at DNO for publishing the report. But I can see their distorted rational for doing this because this woman was part of the DLP as a diplomat which leads to the sale of diplomatic passports to overseas criminals. Shameful!

  10. Profet of Doom
    July 17, 2017

    It seems like the words, “Due Diligence’ has a different meaning in our neck-of- the- woods

    • Me
      July 18, 2017

      We have triple D, Dominica Due Diligence which stands for Put a Lid on Anything that Stinks.

    • Gary
      July 18, 2017

      You are the one who has a different meaning and concept of the words “Due Diligence.” I will tell you this “Due Diligence.” is not full proof, it is not a tool used to predict the future behavior of an individual. Due Diligence is the mother of good luck.

      • Jonathan St jean
        July 18, 2017

        What about due diligence having to do with the PAST behavior of an individual or organization.This is what it means to any and all inteligent people.The police can’t investigate the future criminal behavior of anyone but past deeds ,just as for any organization doing due diligence work.Madweke’s deeds could have been found out on line with a simple click of a mouse .

      • Willie
        July 18, 2017

        Keep dreaming

      • Gary
        July 18, 2017

        To Jonathan St jean

        What you have written regarding “due diligence” is not in context with what I wrote.” You have not addressed my point, which is, a person can have positive result from a due diligence check and then something happens after. A person can do all their due diligence before making an investment and then lose their investment. Your concept of trying to pinpoint due diligence to past behavior is somewhat shallow.

        To suggest quote “Madweke’s deeds could have been found out on line with a simple click of a mouse” is somewhat ludicruous. Forbes Magazine gave her an award for best leadership in Africa, don’t you think to make such an award by a prestigious magzine staffed with Journalist due diligence had to be done prior to the award, and if her so called past deeds you are alludig to were to be found simply by the click of a mouse on line do you think they would honor her with such an award, so long for you nonsence.

    • Analyst
      July 18, 2017

      It should be called “after Diligence’ since investigations only take place after the fact when diplomats have been sighted as criminals.

  11. Man bites Dogs
    July 17, 2017

    This is all crap they cannot do anything about it do they think Nigerians are brainless people make no mistake they are not i have worked with them and they know every trick in book, Back to the USA this nation have never move on but only to suppress and victimise black people all over this world, I could bet you 99.9% of white Americans could not tell you which continent you would find Nigeria,let them go to hell,this is why the world is in a mess today.

    • Stupes
      July 17, 2017

      You need medication! Get that head checked!

    • Affa
      July 18, 2017

      This comment may be exactly why you bit a dog, and also that’s why African countries’ officials are in the bottom of the human pit. By the way here’s what happens to all the money and assets FOUND SO FAR: “…Forfeit them and to return them to the victims from whom they were stolen”. Sakwe voleh!

  12. UK Dominican
    July 17, 2017

    I hope our own Baroness Scotland is not involved in these shenanigans. She was a member of the Advisory Council of Cherry Blair’s consultancy firm Omnia Strategy llc in London together with Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa who was involved in the Nigerian oil business himself with his brother. That could not have been possible without the blessing of Alison Madueke . I’m mot saying the Baroness took any bribes but it is plausible she could have “facilitated’ a diplomatic passport through her contacts.

  13. Stupes
    July 17, 2017

    I am comparing article and I am wondering why DNOs article is so different! You all torn hatchet man now?

  14. JOE
    July 17, 2017

    DNO what about the part that she was awarded Forbes Magazine Best of Africa Award In leadership

    Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/diezani-alison-madueke-dedicates-forbes-award-africas-women/

    But i get your motive…. The AFP didn’t refer to the assets being considered for freezing as that of Alison but again i get your motive… SMDFH!!!!!!!

    • Lang Mama
      July 17, 2017

      What about the fact thst many letters were written warning of Allison Madeuke’s behavior. What about the fact that the firmer president of Nigeria had warned presudent Gokdluck Jonathan about appointing Madeuke as the oil minister. Even Goidluvj Jonathan’s wife had her issues with Madeuke.
      What is your notice Joe? To defend Skerrit’s poor judgement by any means necessary?
      You tell us why you eantvto defend a woman who has done nothing for us, a wiman we dont evrn know and a woman you eill never know. Please explain Joe why you find it so important to judge EMO simply for posting something that the entire world is reading on line and in major need papers

      • Gary
        July 19, 2017

        When you mention the fact many letters were written warning of Allison Madeuke’s behavior, I’m assuming that you must have gotten such information somewhere and not made up, can you share your source of information regarding such letters to the Dominican public and DNO readers.

  15. Concerned Dominican
    July 17, 2017

    DNO please stop insinuating and planting seeds of doubt. Why don’t you print factual information. Instead of saying ‘it was said’ if your source is credible then say who said it. Clearly you are playing politics. Your news paper is like the national enquirer GOSSIP and INSINUATIIONS.
    Stop it

    • Stupes-est
      July 17, 2017

      Go and tell that you yahoo.

    • Anonymous
      July 18, 2017

      Why don’t you make the same demand of Sam Raphael to disclose the names of the candidates of diplomatic passports and the senior UWP individuals, whom he claims the paid the money to? What is good for the goose is good for the gander, no?

  16. NabesandI
    July 17, 2017

    Where is the link to the AFP article DNO? Please provide it for your readers.

    ADMIN: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-moves-seize-140-mn-nigerian-oil-corruption-204200978.html

  17. The Darkness
    July 17, 2017

    lol… This does not get old does it?

    For all the shame she brought to us… maybe we should get a cut? :twisted:

  18. NKRUMAH KWAME
    July 17, 2017

    Sorry to say but our government leaders don’t seem to remember the good moral lessons of the past. We continue to do the wrong things over and over, yet we expect? different results. My granny always broadcasted Aesopp’s Fables in our ears. She would sing to us in her sing-song voice when we did not follow her instructions: Misery loves company!!
    HOTEP!

    • July 17, 2017

      The good old days when all the money went to America. Big American companies control and exploited the resources of Africa and the Middle East. Yep, those were the good old days unfortunately nothing much has changed, as porverty and famine continue to ravish large parts of Africa.

      • dee
        July 18, 2017

        Anon
        Ia Allison an American? I dont think so somehow .
        If she decided to fleece her country and her people and in her greed purchase status wealth in America how did the ”big American company control and exploit the resources of Africa ?
        For one what is she doing with that expensive yacht in America while many of her people can only have a meal per week . how could she have the wealth to purchase luxury in the Uk and some of the children in her country are forced to make biscuits from mud for a meal to survive ?
        Greed i say . Only some shall eat .
        Was she born into wealth ? did she inherit an oil field ? yes we blacks do exploit each other too and yes we cannot always resist the temptation of dipping our hands into the pot , at any cost .

  19. %
    July 17, 2017

    Wi do hope that the dragnet is expanded to include those who facilitated her..GOOD JOB USA!!!

    • %
      July 17, 2017

      We

    • KiD ON THE BLOCK
      July 17, 2017

      You take long to comment on that one! You are definitely sick and need help.

    • Ideal
      July 17, 2017

      I hope so too. She should be singing for her super.

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