A United States-based law firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has commenced moves to investigate allegations that some senior officials of the Bola Tinubu administration may own properties and other assets in the United States and Europe that are allegedly disproportionate to their declared government earnings.
The firm said it received complaints from concerned Nigerians alleging that some senior Nigerian government officials may also hold U.S. permanent resident status while allegedly failing to meet their federal income tax obligations in the country.
According to the law firm, it is assembling a team to examine the allegations and, where its investigation substantiates any of the claims, submit its findings to appropriate U.S. authorities.
The institutions that could receive the outcome of the investigation, according to the firm, include the U.S. Congress, the Trump administration, the U.S. Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The firm said the investigation would be conducted on a pro bono basis under its U.S. Interests Program.
Following the announcement, Nigerian commentator Samuel Omogor called on the law firm to specifically examine allegations concerning a house allegedly acquired in the United States by Festus Keyamo while serving as Minister of State for Labour.
Omogor urged the firm to establish when the property was purchased, the circumstances surrounding its acquisition and whether Keyamo owns any other properties in the United States.
He further asked the investigators to determine whether the property was acquired with proceeds allegedly linked to money laundering.
The call came against the backdrop of the law firm’s announcement of plans to investigate allegations involving foreign assets and possible tax violations by unnamed Nigerian government officials.
In outlining the legal framework for its proposed investigation, the firm cited U.S. laws, including Sections 1956 and 1957 of Title 18 of the United States Code, which address money laundering involving proceeds of specified unlawful activities.
The firm also referenced provisions relating to transactions involving stolen or embezzled foreign public funds where the applicable legal requirements are met.
It further cited the Global Magnitsky Act, a U.S. law that provides for sanctions against foreign officials involved in significant corruption.
However, the allegations contained in the complaints and the specific claims concerning individual officials have not been established as fact, pending the outcome of any investigation by the relevant authorities.
