Oil tycoon can use African law to fight £17m divorce (even though he built his fortune in UK, his wife is British and they live together in London)

One of Britain’s most successful black businessmen is attempting to strip his ex-wife of a £17.5million divorce payout by claiming that under ‘native’ African law his oil company doesn’t belong to him.

Michael Prest, 50, was criticised by a senior judge last year for treating court proceedings ‘as a game’ by claiming to be £48million in debt instead of fabulously wealthy.

The High Court judge estimated his fortune to be at least £37.5million and ordered him to make the massive settlement.

The oil tycoon was also told to pay maintenance of £24,000 a year for each of his four children, along with their private school fees and medical bills.      Full Read