On the Trail of the Newest Oil Guru, Abdulwasiu Sowami

Even when Prudent Energy and Services Ltd was named in the list of companies involved in the subsidy scam, the name, Abdulwasiu Sowami, never elicited a flicker of recognition. Yet, he is the very powerful and prosperous Managing Director of the indigenous oil company which prides itself as wholly owned by private Nigerians. Several years after that subsidy debacle, Sowami went about his business without attracting any attention until he bought some shares of Forte Oil owned by billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, recently. Despite his intimidating wealth and stature, Sowami is hardly goaded to believe himself capable of feats otherwise unachievable if he were of modest means. The billionaire magnate who lives a life of modesty does not subscribe to the usual vanities that eventually consume his fellow deep pockets in the circuits of the filthy rich. Even though his company recently bought some shares of Forte Oil, he still shies from living loud; he lives in the middle class neighbourhood of Agbalajobi Estate, Ogba area of Lagos State.

Notwithstanding, everybody is talking about him. Close friends, family, business associates and even casual acquaintances believe he has arrived. They believe that it is only a matter of time before he yields to the charm and grandeur of money. When he does, he will join his peer in the mad dash for private jets, luxury yacht and apartments in posh locations across the world. They believe that the oil mogul will discard his garment of modesty very soon but sources close to him argue that no amount of money could make him lose his towering modesty and grace.