Chai! The matter wey dey happen for London no be small o! Former building contractor, Tony Mulcahy, just open mouth for court regarding properties wey link to Diezani Alison-Madueke, the one wey don serve as Oil Minister for Naija. This gist don reach fifth day for Southwark Crown Court, and e dey scatter ground!
Mulcahy wey na the ex-director for Bear Rock Construction Ltd, yarn say dem don dey do renovations for different London properties from 2011 to 2014 wey belong to Alison-Madueke and her family. This guy don bring receipts—emails and financial records wey show say e believe say Naija businessman, Kolawole Aluko, dey play him own game of payment delay.
According to am, Aluko engage dem to carry out big renovations for one house wey dem dey call 39 Chester Close North. Dem even do lift for the house because Alison-Madueke mama no fit waka well. Na dem dey talk say everything wey dem do for the property cost around £2 million. E go meet Alison-Madueke for site to check materials like stone and fabric wey dem wan use. Na serious level!
As the gist dey unfold, Mulcahy gree say financial wahala dey pepper him side because Aluko dey always delay payment. Imagine their bank account dey waka like small pikin wey no get money! By December 2013, Mulcahy don shout say him company dey “on the brink,” wey mean say dem dey waka near to collapse.
When Aluko promise say he go drop £200,000, e no show. So, as smart businessman wey Mulcahy be, he carry some Harrods delivery hold for ground as ‘leverage’. Na so e take recover him money sharp-sharp!
As 2014 start, wahala still dey for their side. Mulcahy even send email go Aluko, dey beg am, say unpaid bills dey “ruining us.” When him ask Aluko wetin go happen, Aluko suggest say make he write formal letter to Alison-Madueke! Chai! The guy even hand-delivered the letter for her house.
Na so money of £270,000 quick follow, thanks to Aluko’s company, Atlantic Energy. E shock Mulcahy as Aluko call am for meeting for One Hyde Park, wey be one of the most expensive place for London! The guy no hide him vex as he talk say, “Here is a man wey dey owe me money, and he invites me to meet him at One Hyde Park!”
Emails wey the court see show say Aluko’s company dey manage plenty expenses for properties wey Alison-Madueke dey use, including salaries and bills. One email even talk make dem stop using “HM” for Honourable Minister, change am to “Clients” for records. Wetin dem dey hide?
As the case dey go, Mulcahy don talk say everything wey dey happen no be small matter o! Dem don even enter voluntary liquidation. The prosecution dey shout say these renovations, plus luxury shopping and all those VIP treatments wey Alison-Madueke dey enjoy be bribes. But the defence talk say she no get power to control oil contracts; she just dey sign paper.
Wetin dey give everybody mind for the trial be say the luxury life Alison-Madueke dey live no fine, as per say na ordinary Nigerians dey suffer for Niger Delta where oil dey flow. Plenty supporters from the Ijaw community don gather for court side to show say dem still dey behind am. Dem dey call Alison-Madueke their daughter, and dem dey worry say this case don dey drag for long!
Prof. Benjamin Okaba wey be the president for Ijaw National Congress don talk say the Ijaw people no go ever leave their own, and dem dey push for better treatment for Niger Delta. E be like say this matter go long; we dey wait make trial continue, and Mulcahy go still talk more de next day!
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