Bank of America, M&T Bank and Wells Fargo received directive from the US government
to close the accounts of the Nigerian embassy in Washington and its consulate in
New York on suspicion of money laundering after traffic on the various accounts raised a red flag.
to close the accounts of the Nigerian embassy in Washington and its consulate in
New York on suspicion of money laundering after traffic on the various accounts raised a red flag.
$3.6 million dollars was said to have entered and left the accounts in under a month,
the latest transaction being the withdrawal of $50,000 in hard cash by a top embassy staff.
the latest transaction being the withdrawal of $50,000 in hard cash by a top embassy staff.
The decision to freeze the accounts is sequel to intelligence report generated by a
panel comprising representatives of the US Department of Justice, the Federal
Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Treasury, unknown to Nigerian
embassy officials, to monitor wires and traffic in all the accounts operated by the embassy.
panel comprising representatives of the US Department of Justice, the Federal
Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Treasury, unknown to Nigerian
embassy officials, to monitor wires and traffic in all the accounts operated by the embassy.
As part of efforts to resolve the issue, the auditor-general of the federation and a team of
auditors left for the US to begin auditing the accounts of the embassy. Efforts by embassy
officials to open new bank accounts with other American banks have so far been politely turned down.
auditors left for the US to begin auditing the accounts of the embassy. Efforts by embassy
officials to open new bank accounts with other American banks have so far been politely turned down.
The US have also ignored all requests by the federal government to unfreeze Nigerian
embassy’s bank accounts in Washington, DC, and New York. The move, according to
sources, is setting the stage for a potential showdown between the two countries
with Nigeria also threatening to reciprocate by freezing the US embassy’s accounts in the country.
embassy’s bank accounts in Washington, DC, and New York. The move, according to
sources, is setting the stage for a potential showdown between the two countries
with Nigeria also threatening to reciprocate by freezing the US embassy’s accounts in the country.
