US Banks freeze Nigeria Embassy accounts over suspicious activities-
The accounts of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC and the Nigerian
Mission in New York might have been frozen by the Bank of America and
Wells Fargo, two leading financial institutions in the United States of
America over alleged money laundering
activities. Sources informed African Examiner that the action of the
banks was sequel to a suspicious money transfer remitted to the United
States from Nigeria. Following the suspicious transactions in favor of
the accounts between February and May this year, the two banks requested
the mission to explain the source of the funds which the Mission could
not immediately avail the financial institutions. Consequently the
sanction had adversely impacted on the finances of the Mission which has
made it extremely difficult for the Embassy to pay its operational
bills and staff salaries. These monies wired from Nigeria were aside
from the regular money that normally comes into the embassy accounts to
run its operation and other official activities. Our source said the
embassy was unable to provide satisfactory explanation for about $3.6
million that was wired into the accounts prompting the banks to freeze
the accounts till further notice. African Examiner also learnt that
these monies are allegedly wired into the accounts of the embassy by
some
state governors and other government functionaries, and when they
arrive in the US, the embassy would make the money available to them.
This perhaps helps these officials to beat some security hiccups which
may arise at the point of entry into the US if they are to carry the
huge amount of money with them. It is not clear whether the two US
leading banks have the right to freeze accounts of a diplomatic mission.
In view of this development, our source said auditors have been flown
in from Nigeria to reconcile the embassy’s books. In his reaction to
the issues, Amb. Adefuye, the Nigerian Ambassador to the US told African
Examiner that “It is simply false. How can an account that does not
exist be frozen? I know that the New York consulate which is part of my
mission has no account with these banks.” Meanwhile Wells Fargo
spokesperson could not immediately comment on the issue over the weekend
but promised to properly look into the matter and get back to us.
However, Bank of America spokesperson did not answer our phone calls and
has not replied our email as at press time.
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