By Niyi Tabiti Kola Aluko, once the Nigerian oil magnate who sailed the $80 million Galactica Star and bought a Manhattan penthouse in One57, has resurfaced online with a new fixation: tequila. Over the past day, Mr. Aluko has filled his Instagram feed with images of Los 7 Ángeles, a premium brand founded by Jaycee Chan, son of Jackie Chan. The sudden enthusiasm has prompted speculation that he is not only a fan but possibly circling the label as an investor. Neither he nor the company has confirmed a connection. Mr. Aluko’s public image has long been defined by scale. In 2017, U.S. prosecutors alleged he and an associate secured energy deals in Nigeria through bribery and laundered the proceeds into yachts and real estate. The Galactica Star was eventually seized and sold, and authorities announced they had recovered more than $53 million. Mr. Aluko has not been convicted of a crime. Now, tequila appears to be the latest stage for a man who has always favored highly visible platf...
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pulled back over N5 billion and $10 million from the deep pockets of contractors and officials who allegedly turned Nigeria’s refineries into bottomless pits of corruption. But wait—there’s more. The anti-graft agency says another N10 billion and $13 million are still out there floating around like lost luggage at an airport carousel, courtesy of “contract inflation” and other corrupt practices. EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has decided this is not a “delegate-and-watch” kind of case—he’s personally leading the charge. Word is, he’s tired of billions being spent while the refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt remain unproductive. For decades, Nigeria’s refineries have been more of tourist sites than functional plants. Billions have been budgeted, billions released, yet they perform worse than a broken generator in rainy season. The Big Spending History Lesson $1.55 billion for Port Harcourt refinery $740 million for Kadun...