Easy going billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar, who has his hands in several lucrative pies including oil and gas, real estate and telecommunications among others, has consistently remained self-effacing in spite of his power, influence and wealth. Very popular in and around Abuja and beyond, he prefers to do his business and philanthropy without making a song and dance of any related accomplishment. A national honours holder of the Member of the Federal Republic, MFR, Alhaji Abubakar who owns AA Oil, was therefore aghast when he was romantically linked with a Lagos-based On-Air-Personality, Toke Makinwa.
The report claimed that Alhaji Abubakar was not only besotted with the lady but had showered expensive gifts on her including designer wears, bags and jewellery and a mansion in Ikoyi. In a rebuttal by his lawyers, George Ikoli & Okagbue, the report was faulted in its entirety, stating, “The publication was made with the intent to portray our client as an unfaithful, dishonest, adulterous, insincere, promiscuous and dishonourable man.” The lawyers also wrote that the publication was capable of and has indeed brought Alhaji AA to disrepute, public scandal, odium and contempt and has severally compromised his character, reputation and integrity. The lawyers said he is a man of integrity and in such matters, he is above board.
It is not the first time the Kogi State-born billionaire would be forced out of his shells. Some years back, when reports emerged about the mystery ownership of a massive mansion opposite Transcorp Hilton, in the upscale Maitama District, Abuja, he had to come out to clear the air. He said then that he acquired the plot of land where the structure was erected in 2005 from an indigene of Zamfara State at a cost of N1 billion. The trained building technologist said, “This building belongs to me. I bought the land occupying this building around 2005 from one man from Zamfara State.
I bought it for N1billion because of the location. Thereafter, a thought came to me. By the way, I am a builder. I specialize in building houses of model quality. Any house I build is usually very special.” He added, “The whole idea about that is just for everyone to know that it is very possible to replicate the type of things we see in overseas countries in Nigeria. So, I resolved that since I had the opportunity of acquiring this land, I would put up a structure that would be equal to none in the entire city and maybe the country.”
We hereby retract the said article in entirety and apologize for the embarrassment the said article must have caused the businessman.
