Nationality Nigerian Name Antonio Fernandez Years active 1966–2015 | Citizenship Nigerian Ethnicity Yoruba | |
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Occupation bureaucratBusiness magnatediplomat Died September 1, 2015, Belgium Children Abimbola Fernadez, Teju Philips Fernandez, Koye Fernandez Spouse Halima Maude Fernandez (m. 2003–2015), Aduke Fernandez (m. ?–2003), Barbara .J. Fernandez (m. ?–1989) Parents Canut Akinwale Fernandez, Julia Fernandez | ||
Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez (1936 – September 1, 2015) was a Nigerian Business magnate, Diplomat and Permanent Representative of Central African Republic to the United Nations. He was considered one of the richest men in Africa. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, he held the title of the Apesin Ola of the Egba clan of Yorubaland.
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Background
Fernandez was born in Lagos, Nigeria to the Fernandez family that originated from Cuba. He attended St Gregory's College, Lagos for his secondary education but left after his second year for the United States of America.
Diplomatic career
He started his diplomatic career in 1996 as Consul of the Republic of Dahomey (now Benin Republic). In 1982, he served as advisor to the Angolan Government on Economic matter. He held this position for two years until his appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations in 1984.
Business interests
Fernandez ran an oil company called Petro Inett which obtained a 50% share with South African-based Energy Africa Limited in a deal with the state oil company for exploration rights in a 4,700 km2 area of Angola's coast in 1996. In 1992, he was appointed as Special Adviser to the President of Mozambique on International Economic Matters, a position he held for three years.
Personal life
He was formerly married to Aduke Fernandez, whom he divorced in July 2003 following a £ 300m divorce suit in Scotland filled on July 1, 2003 by her counsel. Lord Brodie presided over the case. He was asked by Aduke through her counsel, Charles Macnair QC, to compel Chief Fernandez to pay her a lump sum of £ 5m and an allowance of £75,000 monthly for 3 years but the case was dismissed by the court. She died in 2013.
Prior to Aduke Fernandez, he was married to Princess Abiola Dosunmu, the current Erelu Kuti of Lagos.
Death
Fernandez died on September 1, 2015 in Belgium after an undisclosed illness of several months and was buried at Ixelles Cemetery in Brussels on September 18, 2015.