He is one of the richest men in Britain; The Sunday Times Magazine estimated his wealth in 2010 to be around £350 million.
Ely Calil's original source of wealth was inheritance. His father, George Calil (Kano), founded a ground oil empire and the Nigerian Oil Mills (NOM) which was later managed by Ely's younger brother Bernard Calil. After his father's death in 1970 the wealth was bequeathed to Ely and his brother Bernard. Later on Ely expanded his wealth in property and finance. He successfully negotiated a number of oil mining deals in Nigeria in the 1980s.
His powerful circle of friends includes Britain's First Secretary of State Peter Mandelson, the son of the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Baron Mark Thatcher and Lord Archer. Calil was also a very close friend to late tycoons as Sir James Goldsmith, John Aspinall and Mark Birley.
In 2002, Calil was arrested in Paris in connection with the Elf Aquitaine scandal which reached into the heart of French government. He denied taking bribery of £40 million and was released without any charges.
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