New York (CNN Business) The remains of defunct Sears Holdings is suing Eddie Lampert, the man who was its previous CEO and primary shareholder, alleging he improperly stripped the company of assets as it hurdled toward bankruptcy.

"As Sears was sliding into bankruptcy, Eddie Lampert ... in concert with and assisted by other defendants, transferred billions of dollars of the company's assets ... for grossly inadequate consideration or no consideration at all," according to the federal lawsuit, which was filed Thursday. "This complaint is brought to make Sears whole for these thefts of its assets."

The suit names ESL, the hedge fund that Lampert controls, as well as Lampert, as defendants. It also names Steven Mnuchin, Lampert's college roommate and a former member of the Sears board of directors before he became US Treasury Secretary. Other former executives and directors of the pre-bankruptcy Sears are also named.

Mnuchin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit.

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