Kola Aluko, the Nigerian businessman, declared
wanted by the Economic Financial Crimes (EFCC), has
been identified as the owner of Apartment 79, a
penthouse apartment in One57, one of New York
City’s most expensive residential buildings.

However, the apartment would be sold to the highest
bidder by a Luxembourg-based Banque Havilland, in a
foreclosure auction in July, the New York Post
reported.

The penthouse sale is seen as the most expensive
foreclosure in New York City.

Aluko, 48, is believed to be hiding out on his yacht,
which he rented to Jay Z and Beyoncé in 2015 for
$900,000 a week.

The energy businessman, who is a friend of stars such
as Jay Z and Jamie Foxx, has not been seen for a
while, which has sparked rumours that he is hiding
away on his yacht, which was last registered in the
Bahamas in May.

Aluko was reportedly last seen in Hong Kong in May
and his yacht is currently in the Bahamas, according
to the report.

His bank has also listed the yacht, the Galactica Star,
as collateral in the foreclosure, but the yacht is ‘out of
range’ at the moment.

Aluko rented the Galactica Star to Jay Z and Beyoncé
in 2015 for $900,000 a week and allegedly showed up
at the Ja Rule Fyre Festival in the Bahamas in late
April with his yacht.

The businessman is also close friends with Leonardo
DiCaprio and made a large donation to DiCaprio’s
environmental charity as well as attended the actor’s
birthday party in New York City in 2013.

The energy tycoon sold a 2.4-acre estate in
Montecito, California, to Gwyneth Paltrow for an
undermarket $4.9million.

In 2012, he bought an 11,478-square-foot house in
Bel Air for 24.5 million dollars, then sold the property in
2016 for 21.5 million dollars.

He also owns a home in Beverly Hills that was also
purchased in 2012 for $14.7 million.

Apartment 79 was sold to Aluko in December 2014 for
$50.9million, making it the eighth most expensive unit
in the building, according to New York City property
records.

Less than a year later, however, he took out a
$35.5million mortgage from Banque Havilland in
Luxembourg to help pay for the apartment.

When Aluko failed to pay the loan back a year later,
the bank took possession of the 6,420-square-foot
apartment, according to court documents.

Now the bank is planning to auction off the four-
bedroom apartment on July 19 to regain the mortgage
plus interest.

“It’s probably the most-expensive foreclosure we’ve
ever seen in luxury development. I don’t know of a
foreclosure that’s larger than that,” Donna Olshan,
president of high-end Manhattan brokerage Olshan
Realty Inc., told reporters.

One57 was built by Extell Development Co. and was
the tallest residential building in Manhattan until 432
Park Ave was completed a few months later.

Construction started on the building in 2009 and
finished in 2014, creating a trend of similar ultra-
luxury high-rises on 57th street, which has now been
coined ‘Billionaire’s Row’.

Amenities in the building include a 24-hour doorman
and concierge, fitness center, yoga studio, private
dining room, catering kitchen, library, valet service and
on-site parking.

TheCable