Los Angeles, California – October 21, 2025: A senior official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, has lost ownership of his $2.5 million mansion in Los Angeles after being convicted of money laundering by a U.S. court.
The forfeiture was ordered on October 3, 2025, by Judge John Walter of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The ruling directed that Okoronkwo’s luxury property, located at 25340 Twin Oaks Place, Valencia, be seized and transferred to the U.S. government.
According to court documents obtained by Peoples Gazette, the property—officially identified as Tract No. 45433, Lot 12 (Assessor’s Parcel No. 2826-143-004)—was purchased with funds linked to illegal financial transactions, violating U.S. money-laundering laws.
Okoronkwo was convicted on three counts of money laundering after a detailed investigation by U.S. prosecutors. The court determined a direct connection, or “requisite nexus,” between the crimes and the Los Angeles mansion, which made the property subject to permanent forfeiture.
The case, filed as United States v. Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo (Case No. 2:24-CR-20(A)-JFW), is part of an ongoing U.S. federal investigation into international financial crimes involving politically exposed persons (PEPs) from Nigeria and other countries.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Su, who handled the forfeiture proceedings, confirmed that under federal forfeiture laws, the U.S. government now has the authority to seize and sell the property.
The U.S. Attorney General has also been authorised to notify any third parties who might have legal claims to the property before the sale. Once all such claims are resolved, the forfeiture becomes final and forms part of Okoronkwo’s sentence.
Background and Broader Context
This case is not an isolated one. It adds to a growing list of Nigerian officials and business executives whose properties in the U.S. have been seized after investigators traced them to illicit financial activities.
The U.S. government has been tightening its crackdown on money laundering and corruption involving foreign public officials, especially those linked to developing countries like Nigeria.
While details of Okoronkwo’s specific illegal transactions remain sealed, prosecutors say the funds used to acquire the Los Angeles mansion were moved through complex offshore accounts to hide their origin.
Why This Matters
Money laundering involves concealing the source of illegally obtained money, often through international transfers or property purchases. Convictions like this show how foreign governments and law enforcement agencies are working together to trace and recover stolen public funds.
For Nigeria, this case highlights ongoing concerns about corruption and misuse of public office, especially within strategic sectors like oil and gas.
