FUGITIVE!
‘DSP Alamieyeseigha Steals $700,000 Bayelsa State Money’-United States Govt
*Says “Ex-Gov used Corruption Proceeds to purchase properties in America”
*Accumulated enormous Wealth through Corruption/Other illegal activities
*Acquired 4 Properties in UK for $8.8m, had money in Bank Accounts around the World
*Investigation Initiated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Asset Identification & Removal Group (AIRG) in Baltimore
* Met Police found $1.6m Cash in his house, Bought Properties in USA *Civil forfeiture of his Mansion in Maryland worth $600,000 and Closure of $400,000 in Fidelity Brokerage Account concluded
*His Untold Escape out of America, wired abroad Bayelsa State Monthly Security Votes-INVESTIGATION
* US Dept. of Justice: “From 1999-2005 when Impeached, his entire official salary was $81,000 and Declared Income $248,000”
*Evidence from US Dept. of Justice Attached
BY SAMSON SHOAGA/MANAGING EDITOR/NORTH CAROLINA
DIEPREYE Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, an erstwhile Governor of oil-rich Bayelsa State where President Goodluck Jonathan came from, is regarded “One of Nigeria’s most corrupt former governors” due to his kleptomaniac behavior, squandering and pilfering away tax payers money in Bayelsa State while in power to the tune of $700,000 whereas his total accumulated salaries from 1999 to 2005 when he was impeached was $81,000.
Diligent investigation conducted by our reporter revealed that while at the helms of power, Alamieyeseigha, recently granted amnesty by Jonathan, better known as ‘Alams’ or DSP allegedly wired abroad monthly ‘Security Votes of Bayelsa State’, huge sums of money meant to constantly ensure security, law and orderliness by the executive. Everywhere and among security operatives in United States, he is classed ‘a fugitive’, due to the manner of his alleged escape from America to Nigeria in a bid to evade arrests and prosecution.
How America’s Kleptocracy Team unveiled him
Noted for accuracy and excellence, the United States government put in place few of their best, intelligent, dutiful and crack detectives under the acronym ‘Kleptocracy Team’ whose responsibilities include and not limited to tracking ‘money laundering and financial crimes’ committed by politicians or public office holders who steals money meant for those states or countries’ development to keep in United States.
The Kleptocracy Team recently brought its first cases, and we expect more to come in the near future. Naija Standard gathered that Alamieyeseigha, also known as DSP, was the elected governor of the oil-producing Bayelsa State in Nigeria from 1999 until his impeachment in 2005. According to court papers, DSP’s official salary for this entire period was approximately $81,000, and his declared income from all sources during the period was approximately $248,000. Nevertheless, as governor, DSP accumulated enormous wealth through corruption and other illegal activities. He acquired at least four properties in the United Kingdom worth approximately $8.8 million. He had money in bank accounts around the world, and he also acquired property in the United States. When he was ultimately arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2005, the Metropolitan Police Service in London found approximately $1.6 million in cash in his house.
In March and April of this year, United States Department of Justice brought two separate civil forfeiture actions to recover over $1,000,000 in what the team alleged are DSP’s ill-gotten gains. In Maryland, the team sought and got judgment for forfeiture of a private residence worth more than $600,000, and in Massachusetts this team sought and got forfeiture of close to $400,000 in a Fidelity brokerage account.
They were able to bring these cases, even though DSP long ago absconded to Nigeria, because the law permits them to bring a civil action against the corrupt proceeds themselves rather than against the person to whom they belong.
How DSP Escaped from United States
Undercover investigation by Naija Standard confirmed that Alams escaped via Mexico, nearest neighbor to United States when financial crimes suites were filed against him regarding the properties he acquired through the verifiable proceeds of corruption. To avert the shame that may follow his arrest, DSP allegedly escaped before corruption charges were brought directly against his person.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We attach below for your perusal evidence by United States Department of Justice which legally exposed Alams, detailed his financial crimes and how his properties were confiscated by American Government. Yet, this man is still in Nigeria, walking in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power so proudly.
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
Friday, May 31, 2013
Rockville, Md., Property Purchased with Nigerian Corruption Proceeds Forfeited Through Justice Department’s Kleptocracy Initiative
A forfeiture judgment was executed today against real property with an estimated value of more than $700,000 in Rockville, Md., that had been purchased with corruption proceeds traceable to Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Criminal Division and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton.
“Foreign officials who think they can use the United States as a stash-house are sorely mistaken,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Raman. “Through the Kleptocracy Initiative, we stand with the victims of foreign official corruption as we seek to forfeit the proceeds of corrupt leaders’ illegal activities.”
“This investigation was initiated by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Asset Identification & Removal Group (AIRG) in Baltimore, in an effort to recover the criminal proceeds from Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha’s assets, whose shell companies were convicted of money laundering offenses in Nigeria,” said ICE Director Morton. “HSI’s AIRG will continue working with the Department of Justice to seek to recover illicit proceeds gained through foreign corruption and to protect the U.S. financial system from being utilized by criminals.”
Alamieyeseigha, aka DSP, was the elected governor of oil-producing Bayelsa State in Nigeria from 1999 until his impeachment in 2005. As alleged in the U.S. forfeiture complaint, DSP’s official salary for this entire period was approximately $81,000, and his declared income from all sources during the period was approximately $248,000. Nevertheless, while governor, DSP accumulated millions of dollars’ worth of property located around the world through corruption and other illegal activities. The complaint alleges that DSP acquired the Rockville property during his first term as governor of Bayelsa State with funds obtained through corruption, abuse of office, money laundering and other violations of Nigerian and U.S. law. Title to the property was transferred to Solomon & Peters, Ltd., a shell corporation controlled by DSP and on whose behalf the former governor entered a guilty plea to money laundering in Nigeria in 2007.
On May 24, 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Roger W. Titus of the District of Maryland granted a motion for a default judgment filed by the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section and issued a final decree of forfeiture. The order extinguishes all prior title and authorizes forfeiture to the United States of the private residence located in Rockville, Maryland, estimated to be worth more than $700,000 and allows the United States to liquidate the property in accordance with federal law. In a related action in the District of Massachusetts, the Department of Justice and ICE Homeland Security Investigations successfully forfeited approximately $400,000 from an investment account traceable to DSP.
Both actions were brought under the Justice Department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative announced by the Attorney General in 2010. Through this initiative, the Department of Justice, along with federal law enforcement agencies, seeks to identify and forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption, and where possible and appropriate return those corruption proceeds for the benefit of the people of the nations harmed by the corruption.
The case was investigated by the HSI’s Asset Identification & Removal Group (AIRG) in Baltimore. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Chief Daniel H. Claman and Trial Attorney Tracy Mann of the Criminal Division’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Maryland.
Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption in the United States, or funds laundered through institutions in the United States, should contact Homeland Security Investigations or other federal law enforcement, or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov
Brain full of dubious idea
Barawo samsam!
DSP was a theif indisputably just like every governor is stealing now. However, same America covered the case of Dick Cheney an ex American vice president whose hand was in the Haliburton bribe scandal. America cannot be allowed to cause problems in Nigeria as they are doing all over the world.
America causing problems of the world? No, it is “some” people who live or who may be Americans who are some of the problems of the world. However, if it wasn’t for arrogance, too much pride, self gratification and GREED perhaps Nigeria wouldn’t be in the chaotic state it is in today. Remember your own crooked people travel here and live here especially the Southern Nigerians. Don’t and you can’t put all the blame on America. Remember when you point one finger three are pointing back at you. Nigeria need to take responsibilty and bare her cross like the rest of the world need too as well. Anybody reading this can get angry with me and it’s okay, but the only reason anyone would get angry at what I’m writing is because it’s true!
Madam Jerilynn Westbrook…How is San Anto? I can fell you seriously but don’t let us take this personal at all, we are all learning from each other. I am a naturalized Nigerian American and served in the United States NavySea Bee for 7 good years in Dallas-Forth Worth Joint Reserve Base. I want to tell you that there are crooks everywhere in every nations….as we have Nigerian here in the United States so we have American earning their living in Nigeria, they owned privates schools, in Goggle office in Lagos, and factories. People from southern Nigeria (Yoruba’s) have enjoyed a very good relationship with African Americans and many of us are married to them….we love them and the beautiful children they gave us.
You know why they said America government (not Americans); cause problem in the world? It is because of their involvement in corruption in Africa and their policies on African issues. Do you remember the Halliburton case involving Vice President Dick Chaney where he and his staff offered bribe to Nigerian officials? Did you remember the congress men in New Orleans who conspire with VP Atiku in Nigeria to offer bribe to petroleum workers, the congress men hide millions of dollars in his freezer and was detected by the FBI. Why did American government offered bribe in the first place? (Hahahahah Americans not the government here). If you are following what is going on around the world, American government always support the rebels in a country where war is going on (Mostly in Africa) in order to sell and supply guns and sophisticated arms to the rebels, they are planning to do the same in syria now, tell me how or which country in the world can openly declare to sell weapons to rebels, American government ignored the United nations and go to war with Iraq and after killing Sadam they find it difficult to leave the country, what the hell did you want there after killing the president, only american can do that in the whole world………and other policies that make us hide our identity when we travel out of the United States with our blue passports as American because they hate Americans because of their involvement or bad policy in world politics.
As we have crooks in Nigeria so there are many crooks in America….remember the Mayor in Chicago who looted government money…he is in jail now just like the congressman from New orleans. Remember how many celebrities who were yank off to jail because they don’t want to pay tax or those who use drugs to win olympic medals…are they not crooks just like Nigerians? Americans smoke marijuana and use drugs just like we eat cheese on our cheese burger to the extent that they pass legislation for medical marijuana in some states….that is retarded. All the money recover from crooks Nigerian and properties are not return to Nigeria government…..where is it?
Anyway, i have made my point……don’t take it personal…..I am a Nigerian American, honest and work so hard to earn a living so like other good Americans like yourself. The only reason you can be offended is because what am saying is the truth nothing but the truth. Have a good day.
I salute you…..
There is no doubt about it Americans are also corrupt, very corrupt. When they told me that Nigeria was rated 37th in the list of corrupt nations, I asked them what is America’s position? What is the position of the Switzerland, a known haven for stolen money? The difference between Nigeria and America is that while the American engages in Corruption and brings the money home while the Nigerian steals from his home and hides it in Europe and America. This is really wonderful
As I stated in my first comment…”When you point one finger three is pointing back at you”. If you stop blaming everyone else for Nigeria’s DEMISE perhaps a change could be made. Perhaps if those “small” group of people in the North and the South could come together and compromise so Nigeria could grow and learn together perhaps it wouldn’t be in the state it’s in. Many Nigerians hang out on the internet claiming to be God fearing people…saying your mother, your father, grandmother…is sick and need help, talking about you got money in the bank….just crooks!! The biggest thing is THEY PUT GOD IN THE MIST OF THEIR DEVILISH SCHEMES!! I haven’t known of any crooked American government official to use GOD or religion to help him or her to do his or her devilish deeds. And if America is so bad why are many Nigerians trying to come here? And the ones who are here why don’t they leave or even want to leave? Why is it when they leave Nigeria they try to get their family members here? Yes, we have corruption like e every nation does as Wally Adesina sated in his comment. Ass long as there are humans there is corruption. I didn’t say we don’t have some crooked Americans, I said, stop blaming others and pick up your cross and bare it! We can go back and forth on this all day long, but I have bills to pay so I have to get my old butt ready for work…you all have a bless day because I surely will. Now pick that cross up.
I have said it over and over again; Nigerians should stop leaving their blames on the doorstep of others. Is it Americans that’s stealing all your monies. Is it America that is making N29 Million every month in salaries and stipends, the type even an American president would dream of ever making? Is it Americans that are stealing pensions of poor retired people? Is it Americans that have refused to fix your roads where people are dying everyday? Is it America that has refused to give you stable electricity? Is it America that has refused to take care of the millions of graduates who cannot get gainful employment? How many would one count? Stop this blame game and put the blame where the blame belongs. Is it not the same America who wants to prosecute this same man when your darling president wouldn’t hear of it? America takes care of her people while your government has refused to take care of it’s people. Oh please stop this game of blaming the wrong people rather than facing your persecutors. It’s like some black people in America still blaming the whites for their problems while other blacks a making successes of themselves. ENOUGH!!
@Jerilynn Westbrook, much as I did not want to get involved in this thread, I take very strong exception to the word DEMISE.. Nigeria’s Demise…..My country is not dead and every nation on Earth went through their own problems and I am sure Nigeria will survive, If we have come this far, we will make it. even the so called Civilized Countries went through (and are still going through) all sorts and no one referred to them as Dead. I am a Nigerian, Proudly Nigerian and hold no dual Nationality, so can we please let everyone respect each other’s Nation as it is.
It’s okay everyone. Let us bring the house back to normal and consider this as a digression no winner, no loser thanks Jerilynn Westbrook, Vickie Owodunni, and Flora Okoduwa for your contribution…we have husbands and wives here who are from different nationalities who love to hang out with Nigerians and would not like to offend anyone because of Nigerian crooks or American Greeds. everyone should put his house in order and that is what we are doing here….re-engineering the future, from our little steps we will take giants steps like America and other great nations around the world.
I believe if wild,wild, west is still practice in America, no one would like to come…hahahahaha and I believe if Nigerians are not too greedy to steal from their government the money could have being use to make the country better……like I said this is not personal at all and I appreciate Jerilynn Westbrook for the matured way she took in handing this “digression”. We need many more people like you here who hangs out and would love to see Nigeria do good rather than those who called us buddy scratchers or monkey. Now, healthy discussion can continue and God bless every nation.
Right on the money Wally. Let the finger pointing stop; and let a much healthy discussion continue.
this guy has gone to prison and back …what else do we want…..even in europe top designer D$G were yesterday sentenced to 1yr in prison for tax evasion worth 200million euros……just 1yr in prison and ALAMS did not still up to dat and went to prison for 6yrs….like Flora said every country have there problems….. its a global thing.
It’s interesting how 1 little can stir up folks…I do it on my own page, but truth be told, only the strongest can deal with me in an INTELLIGENT way without allowing their emotions to consume them. What I know about Nigeria is what I have read and heard…I have physically experienced her. I don’t know EVERY Nigerian, but what I do know is NOT every Nigerian is bad or evil rather they be from the North or South…East or West. Yes, Demise is a very strong word, but it is easier on the eyes then dead. NO, Nigeria is NOT dead, however, there are those Nigerians who treat it as dead…feel there’s no hope for her or her people. Then there are those Nigerians who seem as though they are trying to kill her. And then there are those Nigerians who still believe and have for her and the people. For many years there has been a Northern President now there’s s Southern one and still no peace. Where and when does it end? Not very many other African countries like Nigeria because if their arrogance and boastfulness …how they look down upon others so quitely. As my mom use to say, “you can have some educated fools.” It’s not all the education a man/woman have that matters to God…it’s what is in their heart that matters to Him. So again, stop pointing the finger, look to yourselves and start healing the country…it begins with you. Don’t get angry at me…I’m just one person who lives in America and KNOW the evil that has been and is being done upon this land which I pray for every day and ask God to help us with humility and integrity.
God bless you @Jerilynn you just spoke my mind I rest my case ….am some of the nigerians that believes this country will never die but rise again to its past glory….its a phase and this phase will pass us by IJN
Of course Nigeria will never die. All we have to do is stop electing all these rogue politicians into office. Let everyone stand for their rights instead of being timid and saying “Ehn! God will do it in His own time.” People have turned God into their cleaning rags; and that includes the religious leaders who have joined the politicians to continuously rape the Nigerian people. “God is not mocked. Whatever man sows is what he shall reap.”
@Vicikie Owodunni, oh I believe and trust in the power of God. I know He is on the mist of working miracles. However, a lot of times God will show us things and because they don’t look like what we think they should look like we say, it is not of Him. Do you know how many people thought this way when President Obama was put in office? But Girl, God was all in both elections. When we put my ingredients and your ingredients together for Nigeria it is a well made cake, my sister. In so many words…men grew up playing G.I. Joe and Cowboys & Indian that’s why we stay in war. (LOL) Only joking my brothers …I think. (Wink)
I am so amazed when I read about people trying to defend the corruption in Nigeria by comparing Nigeria to the western world when it comes to this demon that has plagued our society since the inception on independence. Humans by nature have the tendency to be corrupt, corruption is everywhere, from North America to Europe, the Middle East to Asia, South America to Africa, but I have not seen where corruption is so celebrated as it is celebrated in Nigeria. We have come to accept it as a way of life, if the truth must be told, you are seen as a fool if you go serve in the government and keep your integrity. Yes there is corruption everywhere but the difference is God help you if you are caught in the United States stealing from the government. Nigerian government officials are celebrated thieves, the thief DSP Alamieyeseigha paraded in the this article is still living large and moving around with the high level government officials in Nigeria and the presidency, for Gods sake what message are we passing to the world not to talk of the presidential pardon that was granted to him. Tell me one high level government official that has ever stood before a judge in Nigeria and has been sentenced because of corruption and I will tell you that my grand mother at over ninety is still a virgin. The truth is corruption strives in Nigeria because we encourage it, people are not held accountable and people are not punished for their crimes rather they are celebrated and that what separates us from the western world. In the United States evading tax alone is seen as a serous crime not let alone going to steal government funds. When Bode George came out of jail, people from the PDP party, friends and family went to welcome him all wearing the popular clothes we call “and co” where everybody wears clothes made from the same attire, it was a show of shame because Nigeria was only passing the wrong message to the international community about her stance on corruption. And may I point out the fact that Bode George was not sentenced to jail because of the =N=80 billion that was missing during his tenure as chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority but because he called Obasanjo an ex convict and Obasanjo decided to teach him a lesson by probing his tenure as NPA chairman and making sure he too goes to jail, or how else will you explain Bode George being sentenced to one year and a half in jail for embezzling such staggering amount when MADOFF got 150 years in the United States in the PONZI scheme scam. The truth is we celebrate corruption in Nigeria, Richard Nixon the 37th President of the United States resigned from office not because he stole or embezzled money but because of election malpractices involving watergate, but he was made to resign and after his resignation not one government official associated with him and not one monument was named after him. We all know the story of roads, airport and monuments in Nigeria named after corrupt people, so what are we telling the world. @ Wally Adesina, you mentioned the mayor from Chicago and the congressman from New Orleans, and to my surprise you also mentioned that they were in jail and behind bars, you see that’s the difference, there’s always punishment for crimes in this part of the world and that’s what deter people from doing wrong in a system or stealing from it. In Nigeria The former governor James Ibori of Delta State was shielded from justice for a long time by the man who is supposed to be the protector and custodian of law in Nigeria, the Attorney General and minister of justice knowing how much he stole. It was the Brits that finally caught Ibori and Jailed him, the whole thing was an embarrassment to the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian government. You also mentioned the congressman hiding his money his freezer, he knows too well if he puts that money in the bank it would be linked traced back to him and he will be made to account for it, do you know how many stolen funds are put in the Nigerian banks everyday by government officials without anyone questioning it?. Bill Clinton the 41st president of the United States was never rich while in government but made his fortune from delivering lectures and giving speeches after leaving the government but the reverse is the case in Nigeria, they steal when in government and become useless after leaving. And if you feel Halliburton offered a bribe to get contract in Nigeria, I will tell you that am very sure that it was the Nigerian people that demanded for it, I worked in the petroleum industry for a long time before setting up my company, the NNPC in the Head quarters of corruption in Nigeria, and even if Dick Cheney offered a bribe he did it to benefit Halliburton which in turn will benefit his country and not his personal pocket, how many of our leaders think like him, instead the thieves we call leaders will rather steal from our country and take it out of the country to the benefit of the country they are taking the loot to. If you feel The American government is exploiting every advantage worldwide to their benefit, well at least they are using it to develop and benefit their society and am sure if you were not comfortable here you would have long left. But the reverse is the case in Nigeria where the leaders exploit the people, they steal to the detriment of the society. As much as the truth is better it must and should be told. As Usman Dan Fodio once said “conscience is an open wound and only the truth can heal it”.