Kola Aluko, a former oil magnate once synonymous with superyachts and blockbuster real estate is seeking ways to return to the limelight. He has t
Kola Aluko, a former oil magnate once synonymous with superyachts and blockbuster real estate is seeking ways to return to the limelight. He has these past few days, been spamming social media with posts touting Los 7 Ángeles tequila. The tequila brand reportedly owned by actor–musician Jaycee Chan, the only son of veteran actor, Jackie , was launched with a Cristalino expression after years of development, positioning itself as a premium entrant in a crowded category.
What is however still in contention is Aluko’s interest in the brand. It isn’t certain if he is a partner, an investor or just interested in riding on the wings of the tequila brand to launch himself back from oblivion because neither Aluko nor Los 7 Ángeles has publicly announced any ownership link or confirmed any form of investment. But for a businessman defined by high-visibility bets, the timing and volume of promotion suggest an attempt to reset his public narrative from oil and offshore finance to lifestyle and storytelling around agave.
Aluko’s past remains the headline. In 2017, the U.S. Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that Aluko and associate Olajide Omokore bribed then–Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to obtain lucrative Strategic Alliance Agreements through Atlantic Energy subsidiaries. Prosecutors said the pair then laundered proceeds in the United States, funding an $80 million superyacht, Galactica Star, and a roughly $50 million condominium at Manhattan’s One57. A civil forfeiture complaint is an allegation, not a criminal conviction.
The yacht became the symbol of the case. A federal court ordered Galactica Star sold; U.S. authorities later announced a resolution recovering more than $53 million in profits derived from the corruption schemes, including proceeds connected to the yacht.
Aluko’s rise was as fast as his fall. He co-founded Atlantic Energy and cut deals tied to under-developed producing fields in the Niger Delta. He also joined VistaJet’s advisory board as the private-aviation firm expanded into West Africa, and he co-founded the Made in Africa Foundation with designer Ozwald Boateng to champion large-scale infrastructure plans.
If Aluko is indeed edging into agave—whether as a silent backer or an evangelist with options—this would mark his boldest reputation play since the forfeitures.
