Convicted Nigerian NNPC Official Forfeits $2.5 Million U.S. Mansion to Government

Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo, a senior official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, has lost his $2.5 million mansion in Los Angeles to the United States government after being found guilty of money laundering.

On October 3, 2025, Judge John Walter of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ordered that the luxury home at 25340 Twin Oaks Place, Valencia be taken over by the government.

According to court papers obtained by a media outlet, Peoples Gazette, the property, listed under Tract No. 45433, Lot 12 (Assessor’s Parcel No. 2826-143-004) was linked to money obtained through illegal financial dealings that violated U.S. laws.

Okoronkwo was convicted on three counts of money laundering after a detailed investigation and prosecution by U.S. authorities. The court said there was a clear connection between the crime and the property, which made it eligible for seizure.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Su, who led the case, confirmed that the government could now take possession of the mansion and sell it under U.S. forfeiture laws. The U.S. Attorney General was also given the power to inform anyone who might have a legal claim to the property.

The forfeiture will become final after Okoronkwo’s sentencing, making it part of his punishment and giving the U.S. government full ownership once all claims are cleared.

The case, United States v. Paulinus Iheanacho Okoronkwo (Case No. 2:24-CR-20(A)-JFW), is part of a larger U.S. investigation into international money laundering involving powerful officials from Nigeria and other countries.

Okoronkwo now joins a growing list of Nigerian government officials and business leaders whose U.S. assets have been seized after being linked to corrupt or illegal financial activities abroad.