Ex-NNPC Official Sentenced to 87 Months for Bribery

Paulinu Iheanacho Okoronkwo, a former official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge John F.

Walter for accepting a $2.1 million bribe from Addax Petroleum, a Swiss oil company. The bribe was intended to secure favorable terms for drilling rights in Nigeria.

Okoronkwo, 58, was found guilty on three counts of money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstructing justice after a four-day trial in August 2025. He was also ordered to pay $923,824 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and forfeit $1,039,997 linked to the proceeds from the sale of properties associated with the laundered bribe.

His legal troubles began in January 2024 when he was indicted on multiple charges, including engaging in monetary transactions derived from unlawful activities. Okoronkwo's law license was suspended in January 2026 following these events.