A former General Manager for the upstream division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, don receive 87 months prison sentence for United States over $2.1 million bribe wey he collect while he dey serve as senior officer for the national oil company.

 

Okoronkwo, 58, wey dey also practise law for Los Angeles area and popularly known as “Pollie” of Rancho Cucamonga, receive the sentence from United States District Judge John Walter.

 

According to statement from the US Attorney’s Office for Central District of California, the court also order am to pay $923,824 restitution give the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and forfeit $1,039,997 — money wey be net proceeds from the sale of house wey dem link to laundering of the bribe cash.

After four-day trial, jury for August 2025 find Okoronkwo guilty of three counts of transactional money laundering, one count of tax evasion and one count of obstruction of justice.

 

US authorities explain say Okoronkwo na dual citizen of Nigeria and United States and he practise immigration, family and personal injury law from office for Koreatown, Los Angeles.

 

While he dey serve as General Manager, Upstream Division for NNPC, dem say he get fiduciary duty to Nigerian government as public official.

According to prosecutors, for October 2015, Addax Petroleum — Switzerland-based subsidiary of Sinopec — wire $2,105,263 go Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (IOLTA) wey carry Okoronkwo law firm name.

 

The payment, dem claim, na consultancy fee for helping negotiate and complete settlement agreement with NNPC concerning Addax drilling rights for Nigeria. But indictment talk say Addax calculate say dem fit lose billions of dollars if dem no secure favourable drilling rights.

 

US authorities say the engagement letter wey Addax sign with Okoronkwo law office — wey carry fake Lagos address — na cover-up to hide say the payment na bribe to influence better financial terms for crude oil drilling.

 

To hide the deal, prosecutors say Addax falsely label the $2.1m as legal service payment, lie to auditors and even sack some executives wey question the transaction.

 

To make am look like client funds, Okoronkwo receive the money through him law firm IOLTA account. Between February 2016 and 2018, he allegedly move funds go IPO Capital LLC.

 

From there, court hear say he use the money take pay family expenses, buy car and house. For November 2017, he use $983,200 from the illegal funds as down payment for house for Valencia, California.

 

Prosecutors also say he no declare the $2.1m as income for him 2015 federal tax return. For June 2022, dem say he obstruct justice when he lie to federal investigators, claim say he no use the money buy house and say the funds na client money, no be income.

 

For January 2026, the State Bar of California suspend him law licence.

 

The case na joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

 

Assistant US Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Nisha Chandran and Alexander Su prosecute the case.

 

US authorities maintain say the judgment send strong warning to public officials wey think say dem fit use their position enrich themselves through corrupt deals.