Former Nigerian Oil Executive Receives 87-Month Prison Sentence in US Court
A United States district court has handed down a significant prison sentence to Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, a former general manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (now NNPC Limited), for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar oil bribery scheme. The 58-year-old dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States was sentenced to 87 months behind bars for accepting a $2.1 million bribe connected to oil drilling rights in Nigeria.
Conviction and Financial Penalties
According to a statement released by the US Department of Justice on Monday, February 23, District Judge John F. Walter delivered the sentence and imposed substantial financial penalties. Okoronkwo, also known as "Pollie," was ordered to pay $923,824 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and to forfeit $1,039,997 in assets traced to the criminal proceeds.
The court specifically mandated the forfeiture of net proceeds from the sale of a California property purchased with bribe money. This follows an October 2025 ruling where the US government successfully secured forfeiture of the Valencia, California home as part of the ongoing case.
Details of the Criminal Scheme
Prosecutors revealed that Okoronkwo abused his position as general manager in NNPC's upstream division by accepting the $2.1 million payment from Addax Petroleum, a subsidiary of China's state-owned energy giant Sinopec. The illicit payment was wired in October 2015 into the trust account of Okoronkwo's Los Angeles law firm, where it was falsely documented as payment for legitimate consultancy services.
Investigators determined the transfer was actually a bribe intended to secure favorable drilling rights in Nigeria. Court documents show that Addax executives allegedly falsified internal records to characterize the payment as legal fees, terminated employees who questioned the transaction, and provided misleading information to company auditors.
Money Laundering and Tax Evasion
Following a four-day trial in August 2025, a jury found Okoronkwo guilty on multiple charges including:
- Three counts of transactional money laundering
- One count of tax evasion
- One count of obstruction of justice
Prosecutors presented evidence showing Okoronkwo used approximately $1 million from the bribe as a down payment on his Valencia, California residence. He subsequently failed to declare this income in his 2015 tax return, leading to the tax evasion conviction.
Broader Implications for Anti-Corruption Efforts
This case represents a significant development in international anti-corruption enforcement, particularly involving Nigeria's oil sector. The successful prosecution demonstrates increased cross-border cooperation in combating financial crimes and holding officials accountable for abuses of power.
The sentencing sends a strong message about the consequences of corruption in the global energy industry and highlights the legal risks facing officials who engage in bribery schemes involving international transactions.
