312 North Spring Street Some of the big contracts given to the Chagoury Group in Nigeria include the State Security Headquarters the State Security Headquarters Building in Abuja, Nigeria; heNigerian Defence Academy; Ocean Parade Towers, a luxury residential development onBanana IslandLagos; the National Assembly Complex inAbuja; 800 units staff housing complex for ALSCONs Aluminium Smelter Plant; a housing, school and leisure complex for Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited; a foreshore development project on Osborne Road Ikoyi; a 13-floor residential development project on Victoria Island; 19-floor Intercontinental Hotel onVictoria Island; a new headquarter for Magnum Trust Bank; and the new headquarters and office complex for TOTAL oil company in Port Harcourt. The U.S. was pushing for the return of democratic rule in Nigeria; Abacha, meanwhile, was eager to have his country taken off a U.S. list of nations that enabled drug trafficking, McHenry said. Lebanese billionaire Chagoury banks on presidential candidate Bola Tinubu. The United States Justice Department on Tuesday, charged Nigerian billionaire, Gilbert Ramez Chagoury with one count of scheming to falsify and conceal material facts and two counts of making false and misleading statements to federal investigators during an investigation into illegal contributions he made to the re-election campaign of Nebraska As a noncitizen, Chagoury is barred from donating to US political campaigns, but in 1996, he gave $460,000 to a voter registration group steered by Bill Clintons allies and was rewarded with an invitation to a White House dinner. The private jet wasted no time in taking off as soon as it had landed. even invited Chagoury to his wedding. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mack E. Jenkins, Chief of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Aron Ketchel, also of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section. By the time Hillary Clinton became secretary of State, the relationship was strong enough for Bill Clintons closest aide to push for Chagoury to get access to top diplomats, and the agency began exploring a deal, to build a consulate on Chagoury family land in Lagos. Chagoury, who denied knowing the funds were stolen, paid a fine of 1 million Swiss francs, (about $600,000), and gave back $65 million to Nigeria; to get his Swiss conviction expunged. Besides Tinubus rumoured medical trip to Paris, it is believed that Chagouri used the occasion to sell Tinubus candidacy to the French. They are also behind the over $6 billion Eko Atlantic project, which is an entirely reclaimed coastal city built in the upmarket Victoria Island area of Lagos and reserved exclusively for the high net worth individuals and corporate entities including some embassies. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Under Review. In 2012, Baaklini handed LaHood a $50,000 personal check with the word "loan" written on it. "Lagos's population is growing to 25 million," he said. Chagoury is a prominent example of the nexus between Hillary Clintons State Department and the familys Clinton Foundation, which has come under renewed scrutiny during her presidential run. Contact 4? In July this year when Tinubu had to visit Paris for undisclosed reasons, it was Chagoury that helped organized his trip. His phenomenal influence started during the late Sani Abacha era but it peaked during the Goodluck Jonathan era. She said at a recent briefing that she was unaware of whether Hillary Clinton knew the site was under consideration; it was on a list of possibilities submitted by a real estate firm in 2012, Trudeau said in response to questions from The Times. Based out of Lagos, Nigeria, Ronald Chagoury Jr. is a Representative of the Chagoury Group and Vice Chairman of Eko Atlantic, a division of the Chagoury Group. During a 2013 dedication ceremony in Lagos, just after Hillary Clinton left her post as secretary of State, Bill Clinton lauded the $1 billion Eko Atlantic as an example to the world of how to fight climate change. Beneficial Ownership: Oil Fields OML 112 and OML 117 belongs to father of Niger State governor, INVESTIGATION: How Petronor OML Joint Venture was brokered, OML-29 Saga Knives out over $2.7 billion as 7 Nigerian banks battle in London court, How Defence products expanded Nigeria-Turkey trade volume. Through their ownership of the Chagoury Group, Gilbert Chagoury and family have an estimated wealth of $4.2 . By last summer, U.S. diplomats had selected a 9.9-acre property at Eko Atlantic as the preferred site for a new Lagos consulate, State Department documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times show. His parents, Ramez and Alice Chagoury were Lebanese immigrants who raised all their children in Nigeria, a country they had both come to love passionately. Dizzying accounts of mind-boggling looting, including using trucks to transport foreign currencies out of the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), were some of the improbable tales that turned out to be true following the sudden death of General Abacha. Mrs. Moussalli-Nouri holds a first degree in civil engineering and a master's degree each in construction and structural engineering.. She currently serves as CEO of Wazobia TV & Wazobia MAX TV and is a member of the Young Presidents Organisation. Manage Settings It is not in his principles to act as transporter to anyone.. After a review, Chagoury was refused a visa to enter the US in 2015. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. He has donated in excess of $340,000 for the renovations of the Church of Our Lady of Lebanon in Paris, France. In July this year, Chagoury was in Paris, France to join his fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Emmanuel Macron. The ties between Chagoury and Aoun ended years ago in a dispute over oil franchises, said Michel de Chadarev, an official with Aouns party. Slack All Over Again. After Abachas death in 1998, the Nigerian government hired lawyers to track down the money. Its grand cheerleaders boast that on completion, the new Eko Atlantic would match that of New Yorks Manhattan Island. 2018 Chagoury Group. By the time Hillary Clinton became secretary of State, the relationship was strong enough for Bill Clintons closest aide to push for Chagoury to get access to top diplomats, and the agency began exploring a deal, still under consideration, to build a consulate on Chagoury family land in Lagos, Nigeria. THE AFTERMATH OF ARRESTING AND CALLING AN ACCOUNTANT TO ACCOUNT., Foreign vessels fly Nigerian flag, corner 10-billion-dollar maritime contracts under false pretexts. For Ronald, sustainability. List of marketing cookies: Twitter pixel. 2023 Manpower Nigeria. Before joining The Times in 2012, he worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was a reporter and investigations editor, and at the Miami Herald, the Press of Atlantic City and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. What do you know about Ronald Chagoury? Ronald has 2 jobs listed on their profile. Another Homeland Security document shows agents citing unspecified suspicions of links to terrorism, which can include financing extremist organizations; Chagoury later told reporters that agents asked him what bank he used in Nigeria. Chagoury, who denied knowing the funds were stolen, paid a fine of 1 million Swiss francs, then about $600,000, and gave back $65 million to Nigeria; a Swiss conviction was expunged, a spokesman for Chagoury said. Chagoury wanted only to pass along insights on Lebanese politics, Corallo said, adding that nothing ever came of it and that Chagoury never talked to anyone at the State Department. Designed by FixIT Services. With a legion of political and business stooges, cronies and proxies working for him, he is able to conduct his affairs largely out of public glare while making several dress rehearsals to once again get his grip on the Nigerian presidency. I especially thank my friends Gilbert and Ron Chagoury for making it happen, he said. Get a D&B Hoovers Free Trial. []. Located in the heart of Victoria Island and shielded from the hustle and bustle of the Lagos metropolis, Eko Hotels & Suites offer our corporate clients and walk in guests a perfect blend of relaxation, activities, and African tradition delicately infused to meet the highest international standards. Homeland Security documents show that he was subsequently removed from the list and categorized as a selectee, meaning he can fly but receives extra scrutiny. For a decade, Aouns party has been part of a political coalition with Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim group backed by Iran that has seats in Lebanons parliament. As a businessman, Chagoury has been a confidant of many African leaders and serves as ambassador of St Lucia, in the Americas. Soon after President Clinton named Donald E. McHenry a special envoy to Nigeria in 1995, Gilbert and brother Ronald Chagoury visited McHenry in his office at Georgetown University in Washington. Arsan agreed to pay $1.7 million in penalties to resolve the tax probe and to cooperate in the governments investigation. Chagoury was known to have funded Aoun, a Lebanese government minister told then-Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman in 2007, according to a cable published by WikiLeaks that didnt go in detail about Chagourys relationship with Aoun. Founder of the Chagoury Group, Ronald Chagoury was born in Nigeria on 8th January 1949. Gilbert Chagoury, 75, who presently resides in Paris, France, paid $1.8 million to resolve allegations that he, with the assistance of others, provided approximately $180,000 to individuals in the United States that was used to make contributions to four different federal political candidates in U.S. elections. During the Krkou era, the Beninese economy was dominated by Lebanese businessmen who controlled the import trade from textiles to second-hand automobiles, grains to toothpaste. For Ronald, sustainability. Chagoury, a foreign national prohibited by federal law from contributing to any U.S. elections, admitted he intended these funds to be used to make contributions to these candidates. Gilbert the older of the duo has always maintained that the vision for his life was greater than he could imagine and considered it a duty to give back. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. He is a businessman, diplomat and philanthropist. When Chagoury's younger brother Ronald got married in 2007, Tinubu flew to Monaco for the wedding. in General Legal Studies with specialization in Business law and international Litigation and arbitration from the New York University School of Law. His website shows him shaking hands and laughing with Pope Francis. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. Abacha turned out to be one of the most notorious kleptocrats in memory, stealing billions in public funds, acting Assistant Atty. ABOUT RONALD CHAGOURY. Most notable among them is the lucrative deepwater Akpo gas field, OML 130. BUSINESS LEAKS gathered that even though Gilbert Chagoury broke the bank for Jonathans campaign, he also gave donations to the APC leading to Tinubu arranging a meeting between Chagoury and Buhari before the election. Though the Lebanese billionaire went to live far away from Nigeria, he was never really far away from his corporate centre of gravity. With brother Ronald Chagoury in partnership, the Chagoury industrial and financial empire has grown to encompass a multi-faceted business conglomerate determined to break the myths and perceptions of African developmental limitations. 26,665 likes. He is from Nigeria. Now Ronald Chagoury's primary focus is finishing Eko Atlantic. Since the 1990s, Chagoury has also cultivated a friendship with the Clinton family in part by writing large checks, including a contribution of at least $1 million to the Clinton Foundation. Ronald's parentsemigrated to Nigeria in the 1940s where they instantly laid down roots and became fully part of Nigerian society and culture. We assume this is OKIf not, please opt-out! It cited terrorism-related grounds, a broad category that can apply to anyone believed to have assisted a terrorist group in any way, including providing money. Under 18 USC Section 1001, the penalty for making false statements is a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. Chagoury is married to Berthe, the daughter of Blanche and Eduard Awad, and they have two children. U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, Environmental Crimes and Community Safety, Lebanese-Nigerian Billionaire and Two Associates Resolve Federal Probe into Alleged Violations of Campaign Finance Laws, Former FBI Special Agent Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Accepting Bribes Paid by Attorney Linked to Organized Crime Figure, Former Los Angeles City Politician Jos Huizar Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Tax Evasion Charges, Former Top Official in Orange Countys Democratic Party Agrees to Plead Guilty to Attempted Wire Fraud and Admits to Bribery Scheme, Lebanese Nigerian Billionaire and Two Associates Resolve Federal Probe Into Alleged Violations of Campaign Finance Laws. The New York University School of law join his fellow billionaires as guests of French President, Emmanuel.... Private jet wasted no time in taking off as soon as it had landed, he was really. 'S parentsemigrated to Nigeria in the 1940s where they instantly laid down roots became... 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