Ex-SAS Man Implicates Wealthy London 'Cardinal' In African Coup Plot

By Andy Fell Last edited 189 months ago
Ex-SAS Man Implicates Wealthy London 'Cardinal' In African Coup Plot
malabo_cathedral.jpg

Ahhhh......we've always wanted to write a headline like that. This is, of course, the alleged attempt to seize control of the oil-rich African state of Equatorial Guinea, in which a number of wealthy London businessmen, including Sir Mark Thatcher, have been implicated.

Ex-SAS member Simon Mann, who is currently on trial for his alleged role in the coup, yesterday accused a London-based business tycoon of being the plot’s ringleader. Ely Calil, a 64 year-old Lebanese-Nigerian, was referred to as ‘The Cardinal’, Mr Mann claimed. Mann, an old Etonian, described himself as a mere “junior”, an operative who carried out orders for his elusive master. Come on, Simon, we know you were called ‘The Monk'.

Mr Calil resides in a subterranean lair property on The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead, and is said to have strong political connections in Africa. It is claimed that he was worth £100 million in 2004, a fortune he earned by trading military goods, oil and property.

This story is getting better by the minute. We don’t know if there is a God, but if there is, then he is seriously into Frederick Forsyth.

The trial continues.

Photo of the Cathedral in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, taken with thanks from John and Mel Kot’s Photostream under the Creative Commons License.

Last Updated 20 June 2008