NNPCL Sacked Staff Indicted By FBI In Addax $2.1m Bribe Scandal Since 2019

Mr Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo who is facing bribery and tax-related offences in the United States was sacked from the employment of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company five years ago, THE WHISTLER can report.

Okoronkwo is a former official of the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

It was gathered that he was the General Manager Board Matters and came into the NNPC during the period of the former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Ibe Kachikwus.

His appointment, according to findings was terminated on 17 June 2019 by the management of the NNPC.

A jury recently returned a three-count indictment against Okoronkwo after the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that he used his position as a general manager in NNPC’s upstream department to obtain at least $2.1m in bribes.

The alleged bribe was to assist Addax Petroleum escape its $2.4bn liability to Nigeria as part of an oil-lifting contract that began in 2001, the January 10, 2024, the grand jury indictment said before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Okoronkwo, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S., has practised immigration and personal injury law in California for nearly 30 years. On May 25, 2015, just days before President Goodluck Jonathan was due to exit office on May 29, Okoronkwo and other NNPC officials entered into an agreement that would see Addax Petroleum return to developing Nigeria’s crude and gas reserves after a protracted pause due to a years long dispute over the 2001 deal between Nigeria and the Chinese firm.

Addax Petroleum, based in Switzerland but owned by Sinopec, allegedly bribed Okoronkwo with $5,263,157.89, including an immediate payment of $2,105,263.16, in October 2015 after the new administration of Muhammadu Buhari threatened the May 2015 contract, court documents said.