BEVERLY HILLS, CA, June 07, (THEWILL) – Kola Aluko, the co-founder of Seven Energy and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, two companies with vast interest in the Nigerian oil sector, has refuted reports that he is being sought by the Interpol and Nigerian security agencies over his rumoured refusal to return to Nigeria following his alleged falling out with the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, over some oil deals.
A recent online news report had alleged that Aluko has refused to remit slush funds from the juicy oil deals awarded to his companies by the Nigerian Government. According to the online report, the funds are meant for the Presidential campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
But a visibly embittered Aluko in a conference call with THEWILL from London debunked the report in its entirety.
He said the report follows a consistent pattern used by some well-placed persons in the oil sector to destroy his businesses, his person and integrity.
“Though I live in Switzerland, I was in Nigeria about two weeks ago. My wife and kids left Lagos last week after a visit to attend a family function. My business operations are running efficiently without any issues. No one is questioning my partners or me.
“There are some well-placed persons in Nigeria that have been trying to destroy my businesses for over four years with ridiculous tales like this. The pattern has been consistent. These same persons were behind the fabricated story that I spent $1.5m buying champagne at a party hosted by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, whereas I didn’t even spend a dollar at that function.
“I have over 20 years of lawful dealings in the oil sector and have had no problems whatsoever with the government of Nigeria.
“I have had no contacts with the Interpol or Nigerian security outfits,” the businessman listed recently by Forbes as one of Africa’s 50 richest told THEWILL in the conference call.
Meanwhile, two top officials at Nigeria’s Ministry of Petroleum have also debunked the report. The officials who asked not to be identified said the report is entirely false and that the Ministry maintains healthy professional relations with all major players in the oil and gas sector.
“There is no truth in the report that there is conflict between the Honourable Minister, our personnel and any operator, or that funds are being channeled through Mr. Kola Aluko, anyone or oil company for that matter to finance political campaigns. It is utter nonsense,” the official said.
Aluko owns 50 percent stake in Atlantic Energy, a private upstream oil and gas company that entered into a highly lucrative but controversial Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) with the federal government-owned Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in 2010 for four (4) prolific oil blocks with a combined output of about 108, 000bpd.
The SAA agreement is part of Federal Government’s bid to promote and encourage indigenous companies’ participation in the highly technical and capital-intensive upstream sector, senior petroleum officials explained when the deal became public.
According to Forbes, under the agreement that Atlantic Energy currently has with NPDC, Atlantic Energy funds NPDC’s share of the operating costs of the four oil blocks by paying the latter’s entire cash obligations. In return for funding NPDC’s operating and capital activity costs, Atlantic Energy gets back costs, meaning that NPDC pays back to Atlantic Energy the initial money used to finance the
operating costs, and also earns 35percent of profits on the four oil blocks.
Atlantic Energy says it has spent over $500 million on the oil blocks over the last two years. The company is believed to have earned hundreds of millions of dollars from its share of profits during the period.
Forbes said because of Kola Aluko’s various stakes in oil companies and the profits they have thrown off, “Kola Aluko has been on our radar for the annual Forbes Billionaires List and Forbes list of Africa’s 50 Richest.”
Forbes also said Aluko has recently been in the media spotlight for his closeness to stars like Naomi Campbell and Hollywood Actor, producer and director, Leonardo DiCaprio.
Aluko recently co-founded Made In Africa Foundation, a UK nonprofit that supports and funds master plans and feasibility studies for large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa.
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