SAN FRANCISCO, October 06, (THEWILL) – The government of Switzerland has confirmed that it had received a request for “mutual assistance” from the Nigerian government in connection with controversial oil tycoon and businessman, Mr. Kolawole Aluko and firms linked to him as the Muhammadu Buhari government expands its dragnet on allies of immediate past Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, who was arrested in London last Friday by the UK’s National Crime Agency on allegations of bribery and money laundering.
The flamboyant Nigerian businessman who obtained Swiss
residency when he fell out of favour with Deziani last year after he
reportedly bailed with over $1 billion (yes $1 billion USD) proceeds
from oil deals, has been living an ostentatiously flamboyant lifestyle
acquiring a 50 million GBP yacht, private planes, mansions in Beverly
Hills and Bel Air Los Angeles, as well as homes in New York Milan and
Brazil. He also owns a fleet of super cars and courts Hollywood’s rich
and famous celebrities.
International news agency Reuters said Tuesday that the
Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland confirmed the development
in response to its query on the matter.
THEWILL’s calls to President Buhari’s spokesman, Mr Garba
Shehu to get more information on the “mutual assistance” request were
not immediately acknowledged.
Aluko co-chairs Seven Energy and Atlantic Energy with
billionaire Jide Omokore, whose Lagos residence and office was raided by
officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) same
Friday the former minister was briefly detained. THEWILL checks revealed
that Omokore was questioned by the EFCC in Abuja on Monday and released
same day. He told www.thewillnigeria.com on Tuesday afternoon in a
phone chat that he was not arrested.
Seven Energy and Atlantic Energy entered into a
controversial “strategic partnership agreements” worth about $6.6
billion with the NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC, without any competitive
tender processes and were awarded five lucrative blocks to farm on
behalf of the NPDC. The firms have been accused of several
infringements, including non payment of royalties and taxes to the
state. Swiss Confirmation
Hmmm. Naija!
ReplyDeleteFor all those that are eager to champion the cause of their kinsmen (and women) when they are indicted for fraud in government, check this:
ReplyDelete1. Diezani is an Ijaw from Bayelsa state, but married to an Igbo from Enugu state.
2. Those they call her business associates are Jide Omokere, Kola Aluko, etc. They are both Yoruba.
3. These people are being accused of sharing in the loot she precipitated.
4. They enjoyed the good life together.
5. They did not remember -Igbo, Biafra, Ijaw or Niger Delta people.
6. But when they are caught as they are about to, ethnic hustlers will start their hustle.
7. Abeg anybody accused of corruption should go with his co-accused to clear his name.
8. Don't get involved, because they did not add you to their sharing formula.