A United States penthouse property valued at $51.9 million, belonging to Kolawole Aluko, Nigerian oil mogul is currently up for sale for a “slashed” price of $39 million.
The property is believed to be part of the proceeds of “shady” oil contracts also involving a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and another businessman, Jide Omokore.
The luxurious property which has been regarded as the most expensive foreclosure in New York City was bought by Aluko for $51.9million in 2014.
He was, however, forced to obtain a $35.5 million mortgage facility from Luxembourg bank to pay for the apartment. And his failure to pay back the loan a year later led to the bank taking possession of the 6,420-square-foot apartment.
The trio, who are on the radar of the US department of justice for alleged money laundering, risk the forfeiture of at least $144 million worth of assets regarded as proceeds of crime.
However, a source close to the property told New York Post, that Aluko has nothing to do with the sale. “The home was in foreclosure, but it is now being sold by a third party as an alternative to foreclosure.
The Nigerian authorities, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have seized some of their assets.