Encomium
The freezing of $1.8b assets owned by two Nigerian businessmen, Kola Aluko, Jide Omokore and their company Atlantic Energy by a federal high court through a Mareva injunction on allegations of looting has reinforced the present administration’s determination to fight corruption to the finish.
The individuals are reportedly linked to former Nigerian petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke in a wide range of business dealings that allegedly illegally transferred Nigerian oil assets to them and their companies.
Encomium.ng outlines 8 things to note…
1. Kola Aluko is the Co-Chief Officer and Executive Director of Atlantic Energy, an indigenous, private upstream oil and gas company, focused on independent exploration and production (‘E&P”) participation in Nigeria while Jide Omokore functions as chairman of the company.
2. Their company, Atlantic Energy has an increased focus on under-developed producing fields in Nigeria. In partnership with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Atlantic Energy focuses mainly on Niger Delta assets, contracted and executed under Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAAs) with the NPDC.
3. The Mareva Injunction granted by the court approved a global freeze of $1.8 billion in assets allegedly stolen by Atlantic Energy executives Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore.
4. Recently, Mr. Aluko was said to have sold his lavish Bel-Air mansion in Los Angeles, USA at a $2 million loss even.
5. His partner, Mr. Omokare has also been under intense scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which seized a 2 million pound wristwatch from him on April 27th, 2016 and raided his Nigerian homes on October 2nd, 2015.
6. Their company, Atlantic Energy allegedly secured enormous contracts from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) under the direction of the former Minister for Petroleum Resources Diezani Madueke through the Strategic Alliance Agreements (SAA).
7. The two businessmen stand accused of stealing over $1.7 billion from the Nigerian government.
8. Assets frozen by the court include three mansions in Los Angeles, two high-end apartments in New York City, properties in Santa Barbara, California; numerous properties in Lagos including 43 apartments in Banana Island, 58 vehicles, the Galactica Star yacht, and three airplanes.
-DanielFayemi for encomium.ng
