U.S confiscates assets of ADC presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, over $2.1m tax evasion

The United States has confiscated the assets of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu over the non-payment of his federal income taxes going up to $2.1 million.

According to Peoples Gazette, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, in a case number 8:21-cv-01546-GJH filed against Kachikwu and his now ex-wife, Somachi, approved the seizure of assets in a default judgement.

The court approved the seizure after the defendants failed to respond to the summons and complaints served to their Maryland home in June 2021.

Kachikwu, the owner of Roots TV in Nigeria, evaded tax payment while working in the U.S between 2009 to 2011, a grave offence punishable by American law. 

The Gazette reported that court documents revealed that as of March 2, 2022, the accrual of the interests and statutory additions on Kachikwu’s unpaid federal income tax liabilities had reached $2,082,500.

According to U.S law, the tax liabilities will continue to accrue until paid in full by the Roots TV CEO and his ex-wife Somachi, daughter to former aviation minister Kema Chikwe and sister to the famous rapper Naeto C.

James E. Miller of the U.S Internal Revenue Service September 2021 filed a motion for default judgement after the defendants shunned all attempts to get them to settle their tax debts. The U.S District Court in Maryland granted the motion in March 2022.

The assets confiscated include a residential property at 8524 Churchill Downs road, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Kachikwu had previously been indicted in a fraud case in 2009 after he delivered a $100,000 cash bribe to curry the favour of former U.S. Congressman William Jefferson to broker business deals in Nigeria during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

However, Kachikwu was let off the hook after he agreed to testify against Jefferson in court. His testimony strengthened the argument of the prosecution team, leading to the conviction of the Congressman found guilty of bribery and racketeering amid other charges.

The media entrepreneur was yet to comment on the development when filing this report.