US court sentences ex-NNPC official to 7 years for $2.1M oil bribe
A US court sentenced Paulinus Okoronkwo, 58, a dual US-Nigerian citizen and former NNPC General Manager, to 87 months in federal prison for receiving a $2.1 million bribe linked to oil drilling rights in Nigeria. The Los Angeles-area lawyer was convicted of money laundering, tax evasion and obstruction of justice after a four-day trial in August 2025. Prosecutors revealed the bribe came from Addax Petroleum (a Sinopec subsidiary) in 2015, disguised as legal fees for NNPC drilling negotiations. Okoronkwo used the funds for personal expenses including a Valencia, California house purchase and failed to declare the income. He must pay $923,824 in restitution and forfeit $1,039,997. The case, investigated by FBI and IRS, highlights ongoing corruption in Nigeria's oil sector.