"The Department of Justice announced today the filing of a civil complaint seeking the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $144 million in assets that are allegedly the proceeds of foreign corruption offenses and were laundered in and through the US," the release stated.
The Justice Department complaint alleges that two Nigerian businessmen, Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore, were part of a four-year-long conspiracy to bribe the former Nigerian Minister for Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke.
In exchange for the bribes, Alison-Madueke allegedly used her position to help Aluko and Omokore obtain oil contracts for their businesses, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Ltd. and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd.
The Justice Department said the proceeds of the contracts were funneled through the United States and used to purchase various assets, including an $80-million yacht and $50-million condominium in New York City, according to.
The Justice Department filed the civil complaint in Washington, DC on Friday.
