Billionaire Jide Omokore who is believed to have made huge financial contribution to ex president Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election is not in good mood and this is authoritative. We can authoritatively reveal that his oil and gas company, Atlantic Energy is under threat from banks as a result of huge loans that is fast becoming a toxic one. On the other hand is a huge unremitted tax to the federal government agent of Federal Inland Revenue Service. It was gathered that Atlantic Energy owes a bank to the tune of 600 million USD which has made the bank to put the company on red alert of take-over. This is because of all indications that the company may not be able to pay the loan back and if at all not in recent time.
It is not clear whether or not Kola Aluko and Jide Omokore knew each other before they co-founded Atlantic Energy, the firm which the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) says is owing the country about $2b. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is also pursuing it to get its tax returns for the years it operated, The Nation newspaper also reports.
Of the duo, Aluko is the more flamboyant. He keeps the company of Hollywood stars and had been pictured with super model Naomi Campbell, leading to a speculation that they were dating.
Aluko founded oil trading firm Fossil Resources in 2001, and subsequently became the CEO of Exoro Energy- an indigenous oil exploration and production firm. In 2007, the Exoro merged with Seven Energy and became Deputy CEO.
He is also believed to have a business tie with Vista Jet, a Swiss-based private jet charter company founded by Thomas Flohr.
His love for car racing is legendary. He has competed in major European races with the Swiss team Kessel racing. In June 2012, he was reported to have purchased two luxury ultra-modern estates in Beverly Hills for $40 million.
KOLA ALUKO WITH NAOMI CAMPBELL.
In 2013, he was featured on Forbes’ list of ten new multi-millionaire in Africa. Also, Forbes reported that Aluko invested in Fable House, a startup production company founded by Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody. Aluko, who was 44 at the time he made the $30 million investment towards development and production at the production house, runs the Kola Aluko Foundation, established in 2013 to “inspire, mentor and support future generations of African leaders”.
That same year, he held the Nigerian Centenary Photography Exhibition at Bonhams, the world-famous auctioneers in London to showcases what Bonhams describes as “an astonishing collection of photography documenting Nigeria’s rich and diverse cultural heritage”.
Aluko said of his foundation: “The Kola Aluko Foundation is passionate about identifying and nurturing talented young African adults across all fields of endeavour to help them evolve into the new generation of leaders. In doing so, we hope that the young people we engage with will not only develop into leaders, but also become inspirational role models for others. This is the cycle of change we want to foster.”
He is also a major partner of Made in African Foundation run by a popular United Kingdom fashion designer Ozwald Boateng.
Unlike Aluko, Omokore, who hails from Isanlu, Kogi State, is a politician. Aside Energy Atlantic, he is also linked to marine, haulage services, steel, dredging engineering and property development. He is said to have lived most of his early adult life in Egbe in Kogi State.
Like Aluko, Omokore also featured as one of “Ten Nigerian multi-millionaire you’ve never heard of”. Forbes described his company, Energy Resources Group as “one of Nigeria’s largest privately-held conglomerates. ERG has interests in oil trading and exploration, haulage services, steel, dredging engineering and property development.”
The report estimated to have exceeded “$400 million.” Omokore, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he reportedly donated N50,000,000 to the Kogi State government to cushion the effect of the 2012 floods on victims.
Last year, he donated N25 million to assist the government in its bid to stem the rising rate of crimes in the state. Venture Africa’s rich list of 2013 estimated Omokore’s wealth to be some $1.32 billion.
When we contacted the executive director of the company, Angela Omokore for comment, she did not respond to several text messages sent to her mobile phone.
Source: News Of The People
