Billionaire Kola Aluko On The Run Over Biz Partners’ $4billion

Rollicking with Super Model Naomi Campbell

With Hollywood Star at the fabulous birthday shindig

The whereabouts of billionaire oil guru and CEO of Seven Energy group, Kola Aluko has been a subject of discussion in the circuit of some of his highly influential friends and business partners, especially fellow billionaire tycoon, Jide Omokore.

Informed sources confided in your soar away tabloid, National Enquirer that, his sudden disappearance from the social circle and low profile lifestyle he adopted recently might not be unconnected with the whopping $4b (Four billion US Dollars), about 600 billion Naira which is said to be in his (Kola Aluko) possession.

The said money, National Enquirer gathered reliably is the proceeds of one of the booties or put it “national cake” between Aluko, a top female minister and some of his business partners. He is said to have run fi cover ever since the money was entrusted in his care.

Aluko, a heavy spender who squandered $1.5 (about N200m) on bottles of Champagne at the 39^th birthday ceremony of Hollywood star, Leo DeCaprio in the US sometime at the tail end of last year, 2013 is said to be the latest boyfriend of super model, Naomi Campbell whom she impressed wowed at the fabulous celebration that had Kanye West performed 10 songs while Kim Kardashian sang along.

Other big spenders involved in the stiff lavish competition by ordering bottles after bottles of champagne at the bash included “The Wolf of Wall Street” producer Joey McFarland and Texas businessman Nate Paul, Ron Burkle, Jho Low and Vivi Nevo and Russian billionaire, Vladimir Doronin, Naomi’s ex-boyfriend of 5 years.

With Kola Aluko out of sight, his business partners are said to be gnashing their teeth over the monumental loss and close sources have promised to reveal the dirty source of the mysterious fund and those behind it. We shall tell you more as events unfold.

With his scenic houses scattered around the world, an expensive yacht, power rides and couple of private jets which he flies in his entourage anytime he’s travelling, it will interest to know that, his two wives, Kemi, Teni and their children have been living from hand to mouth. You cannot see traces of their father’s billions on them and several times he had quarrelled publicly with his wives over negligence yet he prefers champagne. It is just a shame”.

A family source who preferred anonymity said “We read about the huge spending and it is embarrassing to the Aluko family especially seeing his wives and children living like paupers. We just do not understand the sense in his behaviour.”

Aloko, a passionate car racing enthusiast, he has competed in major European races with the Swiss team Kessel racing. In June 2012, he reportedly purchased two ultra-modern luxury estates in Beverly Hills at $40 million. In December 2012, this Nigerian businessman stepped on to the podium at Rome’s Vallelunga circuit to celebrate third place in the Endurance Champions Cup.

It was a defining moment in his motor racing career as he stood next to one of his idols, former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella. The race at Vallelunga was the fourth and final race of the Cup which was won by Fisichella and Italy’s AF Corse. Aluko’s Kessel Racing team, with co-pilots Thomas Kemenater and Maurizio Mediani, were consistent throughout the six-hour race which is as much a feat of endurance as of skill.

One of the family members has also vowed to make available some dirty lifestyles and the real secrets why he prefers an opulence life and stupendously enriching outsiders to helping family members.

Jite Usman

      

Pastor Oyakhilome’s Messy Divorce Case Worsens As Wife Eyes Biz Empire

The dissolution of the marriage between Christ Embassy Church founder, Pastor Christian Oyakhilome, and his wife, Rev. Anita Odegwa Oyakhilome, has entered the final phase, thus putting the popular Pastor at crossroads over the fate of the church and his business empire.

The wife is seeking divorce on the grounds of “unreasonable behaviour” and “adultery”.

She outlined several allegations against the pastor which we cannot publish for legal reasons.

The divorce case, with Suit No FD14D01650, was filed on April 9, 2014 at Divorce Section A, Central Family Court, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London, UK, on Anita’s behalf by Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, a full-service law firm with expertise in commercial law and a strong consumer focus in family, wills and estate, personal injury law and medical negligence.

Efforts to reconcile the popular couple, whose church is one of the biggest denominations in Nigeria and has branches all over world, have failed. They have two teenage daughters, Sharon and Charlyn.

Oyakhilome is the president of Believers’ Love World Inc, the registered name of the Christian ministry, while his wife is the vice-president.

The pastor, according to an elder of the church, has denied allegations of adultery and believes his wife is being influenced by “bad friends” who are intent on destroying their home.

While Anita believes she has been relegated in the scheme of things in the church, her husband has reportedly accused her of trying to usurp power and authority above her seniors in the ministry.

Sources told us that the pastor had been making efforts to avoid divorce in the hope that the wife would eventually have a change of mind.

However, we can also report that the decree nissi was served on the charismatic pastor in his hotel room during a recent visit to the UK.

Decree nissi, in legal terms, is like a yellow card in a football match which is a precursor to a red card (“decree absolute”) if no new evidence is provided to stall proceedings. 

Church insiders said Oyakhilome had been hoping for rapprochement, but he was left with no option than to receive the papers when the lawyers cornered him at his hotel in London. The decree absolute, which will effectively end the marriage, is expected to be issued soon while terms of the divorce will be worked out by the lawyers on both sides.

Tom Ikimi Exposes Tinubu’s $1.5billion Oil Deal, “You’re A Fraud, Hypocrite, Betrayer”

Former All Progressives Congress chieftain Chief Tom Ikimi has opened a political can of worms concerning the mega deal between Oando and Conoco Phillips.

Ikimi has revealed that APC chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu met secretly with Diezani Madueke to broker the $1.5 billion deal on behalf of Oando.

Tinubu, whose party has always been very critical of Madueke, is being called “hypocritical” by observers. The APC had in the past called for the sack of the minister and also called for her prosecution by anti-corruption

agencies.

According to The Cable:

Departing APC chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi, has taken a swipe at former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the recently approved $1.5 billion oil deal between Oando Plc and ConocoPhillips in the upstream sector. The deal, aggrieved APC members told TheCable, was struck in June at a secret meeting between Tinubu and minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, at the Abuja home of the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu ─ a day to the APC national convention, where Ikimi failed in his bid to become APC national chairman.

He believes Tinubu worked against his bid and finally wrote to the party on Tuesday to withdraw his membership, but not before carpeting the former Lagos State governor who was said to have opposed Ikimi because he could “sell” APC to PDP. Ikimi, in his resignation letter, in turn insinuated that Tinubu was the one doing the “selling” ─ although he did not mention him by name.

He asked in his letter: “Who by the way is the buyer? Is it the PDP Government that opened its doors once more recently to one of the APC foremost boastful and noisy leaders to consummate a mega oil deal on the eve of that controversial APC convention? Who then is really selling and who is indeed buying?” The mega deal had been stalled for a while allegedly by the federal government for political reasons, but was approved shortly before the convention in what is now being interpreted as a 2015 “tactical manoeuvre” by President Goodluck Jonathan. ConocoPhillips, an American company, had reached an agreement with Oando two years ago for the Nigerian company to take over its interest in the upstream oil and gas operations.

However, as Oando made to raise the needed finance for the deal, the federal government was seen as raising obstacles to its successful completion. When Oando, which is listed on the stock exchanges of Nigeria, South Africa and Canada, tried to raise a bond on the London Stock Exchange last year for the transaction, it was scuppered by an allegation in court that former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori ─ who is currently serving a jail sentence for corruption in the UK ─ had an interest in Oando.

This caused Oando a big set-back, temporary affecting its value in the stock market. ConocoPhillips’ fields produced about 43,000 barrels of oil a day last year and have proven reserves of 213 million barrels of oil equivalent. With the take-over of ConocoPhillips’ Nigerian upstream assets, Oando is now one of the biggest players in the upstream sector in the country.

But Tinubu’s associates have consistently denied insinuations that he has a stake in Oando Plc. Meanwhile, Ikimi also took a swipe at Tinubu over the failed presidential quest of Malam Nuhu Ribadu who only won one state in the south-west in 2011 despite being the candidate of the dominant party, Action Congress of Nigeria (now party of APC), in the zone. Jonathan won five of the six states under the control of ACN. Ikimi wrote: “Who sold Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s ACN Presidential candidature in 2011? Was it Chief Tom Ikimi?”

Ooni Of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Rolls Out Mother In-Law’s Superlative Burial Plans

It is no more news that, the Oonirinsa of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade is bereaved, but the superlative burial plans of the first class royal father’s mother in law is what’s the talk of town now. One of the Oonirinsa’s celebrated Olori, Chief (Mrs.) Ladun Sijuwade  recently lost her nonagenarian mum to the cold hands of death.

The burial ceremony of Chief (Mrs.) Flora Olamide Harold- Sodipo is billed to hold this week. Mama Harold-Sodipo (née Adefope), a grand Dame of the Nigerian social establishment, was the mother of Oloori Ladun Sijuwade, the beautiful wife of the His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse 11, the Ooni of Ife. She died on Thursday, August 24, at the ripe age of 92.
Mama Harold-Sodipo is survived by three children- Adedapo Harold- Sodipo, Oloori Ladun Sijuwade and Adebayo Harold- Sodipo, many grandchildren and a great grandchild.

The funeral arrangement kicks off on Wednesday, August 27, with a Service of Songs at Yet's Court, Maryland Crescent, Maryland, Ikeja. The dress code is gold head gear. The Christian Wake Service will hold on Thursday, August 28, at the Anglican Church of Ascension, Omodara Street, Opebi, Ikeja. The colour code for the event is coral head gear and white attire. The funeral service will take place on Friday, August 29, at St. Peter's Church, Ajele Street, Faji, Lagos Island. The reception follows immediately after the service at Habour Point, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. The dress code is bronze head gear and Ankara attire.

Boardroom Colossus, Elumelu Stages Come Back…As UBA’s Helmsman

Four years after retiring as group managing director of UBA Plc, Banking wizkid, Tony Elumelu has staged a come to the mega financial institution, and this time as appointed chairman.

Elumelu retired as Group Managing Director and CEO of UBA in 2010 following the introduction by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of ten-year tenure limits for bank CEOs. He had served as the chief executive of the group for 13 years and was responsible for the creation of the present UBA, a financial services institution that has built a reputation for itself rendering services to more than ten million customers across the continent and beyond.

Elumelu has joined the likes of Jim Ovia, former CEO of Zenith Bank, who was affected by the same policy but came back to the bank as its chairman on July 16, 2014.

Elumelu is expected to bring his wealth of experience, including being one of the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs to bear on the bank and take it to greater heights.

He is Chairman/CEO of Heirs Holdings, the pan-African proprietary investment company, which he founded in 2010, with stakes in a number of leading African businesses, including Transcorp, Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate by market capitalisation, as well as UBA.  

The chairmanship of UBA will complement his existing positions with other Heirs Holdings’ portfolio businesses, including the chairmanships of Tenoil Petroleum & Energy Services Limited and Seadrill Limited.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential business leaders in Africa, Elumelu has developed a reputation for identifying value and bringing a long term investment orientation and discipline to sectors critical to Africa’s development, including financial services, power, oil and gas, agribusiness, real estate and hospitality.

As the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded philanthropy, he has always been committed to the promotion of entrepreneurship in Africa, based on his championing of Africapitalism, the philosophy that the African private sector is the critical enabler of the continent’s economic and social transformation.

According to Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director/CEO UBA said, “Tony Elumelu’s track record at UBA speaks for itself. His return to the board brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the African financial services industry that is second to none. We are privileged to have him lead the board at this critical stage in our development.”

Bismarck Rewane, Chief Executive of Financial Derivatives said, “Banking in Africa is a dynamic, exciting and an increasingly competitive and challenging industry. “Tony is visionary, courageous and has shown an ability to both think for the long term, and to create significant shareholder value. The drive, dynamism and competitiveness that we saw during his period as CEO of UBA, was one of the catalysts of the enormous changes in the Nigerian banking sector,” Rewane added.

Farouk Umar, president, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS) said, “We are delighted with this appointment. It bodes well for UBA and the banking industry now and in the future. Elumelu is a transformer and value creator for shareholders. We are excited about his return.”

Panics In Skye Bank As New CEO Faces N7billion Fraud

The new management of Timothy Oguntayo-led Skye Bank Plc, no doubt, must have been running from pillar to post to find a lasting solution to what looks like a landmark legal action presently rocking the financial institution, almost to its base.

Skye Bank Plc, National Enquirer gathered reliably is facing one of the toughest fraud cases of all time, a whopping N7billion suit preferred against it by one of its clients, Jorotom International Agency Nigeria Limited.

According to the statement of claims, the plaintiffs-Jorotom and its subsidiary, National Clearing and Forwarding Agency are alleging fraud, excess charges, greed, high handedness, betrayer and large scale scam on the part of Timothy Oguntayo-led bank and has since sought a legal redress to get its pound of flesh as a result of the monumental racket the bank has perpetrated.

Tracing the genesis of the chumming business relationship that later went sour, we gathered that, the managing director of the international agency, Jorotom, Snr. Evangelist John Omotosho had approached the management of Skye Bank in his bid to acquire one of the multi-billion Naira federal government agencies, National Clearing and Forwarding Agency, NACFA when it was declared to be sold years back.

We were reliably informed that, Skye Bank, as the financier had injected a whopping N3.6billion into the acquisition with a view to supporting Jorotom’s vision and later get its investment back through a mutual conformity and business co operation both parties had agreed.

Informed sources disclosed to this office that, no sooner the company commenced business than Skye bank moved in by forcefully demanded that, some of its top staffers be drafted on the company’s (NAFCA) board as directors and not just that, they were planted in strategic positions to run the affirs directly.

Quoting the court papers made available to National Enquirer, “the agents/staff of Skye Bank which were drafted to NAFCA as directors and the offices they held are:  Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti (Chairman), Olorunfemi Peter (Executive Director) and Bayo Sarunmi (Finance Director) respectively. These top echelon of Skye Bank which include the immediate past managing director were forcefully planted to run the day to day affairs of the company including receiving and disbursing of funds in a bid to equip their money by fire by force.

We were told that, in its process of running the company, Skye Bank via its agents was excessively charging the company aside other frivolous spending that almost dwindle its fortune. Sad enough is the fact that, the bank later withdrew its agents and declared the firm unfit to pay its bills, thereby inviting the Asset Corporation of Nigeria-AMCON, another federal government agency created as a key stabilizing and re-vitalizing tool to revive the financial system by efficiently resolving the non-performing loan assets of the banks in the Nigerian economy to take over.

All efforts by Jorotom International agency’s management to resolve the matter amicably via its auditors, Biyi Adeniran & Co. were futile as even when the auditors detected a large scale fraud, Skye Bank was so adamant in offering the company for AMCON in order to safe its face.

There are other damaging expose which the auditors, Biyi Adeniran uncovered against Skye Bank, all these are what the Plaintiff, Jorotom International agency is relying on to prosecute its case and its team of lawyers have promised to make the full report of the large scale fraud against Skye Bank available to this office as events unfold in court.       

Efforts to reach those in the corporate affairs department of the bank proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.

Jite Usman