Photograph — Blank News Online

The dubious business dealings of Nigerian businessmen, Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore of Atlantic Energy have come to a head under a definitely unwanted but highly deserved spotlight, as directed by the long hand of the law. In addition to this, former Nigerian oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who already enjoys a similar level of questionable attention with both businessmen, continues to shine in the fraud case.

On Wednesday, a Lagos State federal high court issued an injunction permitting the Nigerian government to freeze the $1.8 billion worth of global assets owned by Aluko and Omokore, along with that of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited (AEDCNL), which was transferred to them by Madueke in their illegal business deals. Reports state that when the funds under scrutiny were transferred to Atlantic Energy by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), under the authority of Madueke, it was not yet a legal entity.

In the documents provided by the court for public review, real estate properties in highbrow areas in Nigeria and the United States owned by Aluko and Omokore were mentioned, along with 58 vehicles, a yacht and three aeroplanes. Last year, tt was discovered that both Madueke and AEDCNL collaborated in a clearly crafted plan to swindle the Nigerian government of billions of dollars. Madueke went on to be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Interpol in October of the same year while facing trial with Aluko and Omokore, who remained under close investigation.

The investigations, which possibly contributed to the delivery of the court injunction, revealed that Aluko sold his luxury Bel Air mansion last week. It is likely that the mansion is one of the three mentioned in the document provided by the court as evidence. In April, jewellery worth two million pounds were recovered from both Omokore’s wife and Madueke.

Also, on Wednesday, the latest extension of the fraudulent plot starring Madueke reveals that Fidelity Bank Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, with one of his Heads of Operation, has been rearrested by the EFCC over another N40 billion laundered through his bank by the former oil minister.

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