Five times Eko hotel owner, Chagoury, has been on the ‘wrong side of the law’

Gilbert Chagoury has hugged the headlines in Nigeria again. And that’s about 48 hours after he had probably done the same in the United States of America.

This time Chagoury earned his space in the media after his ban from visiting the United States on the basis of his affiliation to a Hezbollah, a group which the US has on its terror list, became public knowledge. All thanks to the Los Angeles Times.

For those who have been around for a while, the 70-year-old Nigerian-Lebanese is no stranger to controversies.

Here we refresh your memory of those times the part owner of Eko Hotel and co-founder of the Chagoury Group has found himself in the limelight for not too good reasons.

1. The ban from the United States

Of course you know about the most recent. It’s what we started this post with. He was reportedly refused entry to the US because of “his involvement in Lebanon’s complicated political system”, according to Dailymail.

2. A rift with Homeland security

In 2010, he was reportedly pulled off a private jet in Teterboro, New Jersey, and questioned by Homeland Security officials for four hours. The reason? His name was on the no-fly list within the United States.

3. A money-spinning collaboration with Abacha

Chagoury is also known to have helped late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha stack money in accounts abroad.

After Abacha’s death in 1998, the Nigerian government hired lawyers to track down the money. The trail led to bank accounts all over the world — some under Gilbert Chagoury’s control.

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.

4. The Halliburton bribery case

Although Chagoury denies any involvement in the Halliburton bribery case, but his name surfaced in notes taken by one of the indictees, Chodan, who kept detailed records of so-called cultural meetings, where bribes were discussed.