U.S. Investigates Nigerian Official
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WASHINGTON — The government confirmed Saturday that the U.S. home of Nigeria’s vice president had been searched as part of a federal investigation, which news reports have linked to a Louisiana congressman.
A State Department spokeswoman would not confirm when the search occurred, referring questions to the Justice Department. A Justice spokesman declined to comment.
The Times-Picayune of New Orleans first reported that agents had searched the Potomac, Md., home of Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Aug. 3. The same day, FBI agents searched the Washington and New Orleans homes of Rep. William J. Jefferson, an eight-term Democrat.
The State Department would not say whether the searches were linked.
“All inquiries regarding the search of the United States residence of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be directed to the Department of Justice,” spokeswoman Joanne Moore said. “We do not comment on ongoing federal law enforcement investigations.”
Justice spokesman Charles Miller said: “There’s nothing I can say.”
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