The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) have announced that they were filing a civil complaint against Nigeria’s former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and two oil businessmen.

The complaint is seeking the forfeiture and recovery of an estimated $144 million in assets owned by the three. The properties are believed to have been acquired from of foreign corruption offences and money laundering.

Top officials of the U.S. who made the announcement said the instituted processes were part of ensuring that the country will not be used as a haven for proceeds from corruption.

Corrupt foreign officials and business executives should make no mistake: if illicit funds are within the reach of the United States, we will seek to forfeit them and to return them to the victims from whom they were stolen.

“The United States is not a safe haven for the proceeds of corruption,” acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco said. He added: “The complaint announced today demonstrates the Department’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners around the globe to trace and recover the proceeds of corruption, no matter the source.

‘‘Corrupt foreign officials and business executives should make no mistake: if illicit funds are within the reach of the United States, we will seek to forfeit them and to return them to the victims from whom they were stolen.”

More from africanews.com