Life, Legacy, and Business: The Untold Story of Abinet Gebremeskel

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Abinet Gebremeskel remains one of modern Ethiopia’s most influential, debated, and enigmatic figures. Long recognized as the trusted confidant and chief executive associate of Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, Abinet’s public image has frequently been defined by corporate power and high-stakes philanthropy.

In an extensive interview recorded in Virginia, USA—where he has resided for over two years—Abinet reflected on his aristocratic and entrepreneurial roots, his youth in Addis Ababa, student political actions in Washington D.C., his 32-year partnership with Sheikh Al-Amoudi, and the subsequent high-profile legal battles that severed their alliance.

1. A Heritage of National Service: The Oda & Dejazmach Mersha Lineages

To understand Abinet Gebremeskel’s fiercely independent personality, one must examine his deep-seated family history, spanning prominent figures on both paternal and maternal sides.

The Oda Family Legacy

Abinet was born in Piazza, Addis Ababa, the first son following eight daughters in a family deeply embedded in Ethiopian commerce and public service.

Kegnazmach Gebremeskel Oda (Father): A patriot who fought Italian forces alongside Dejazmach Shaqa Bekele Woya in the Sodo and Gurage regions. Following Ethiopia’s liberation, he served as Chief of Protocol and Personnel at the Prime Minister’s Office, Chief Inspector of the Addis Ababa Municipality, and played a decisive role in selecting the location and overseeing construction of the National Theatre (formerly Emperor Haile Selassie I Theatre). He later served as Assistant Minister of Agriculture, establishing Shola Milk.
Gebreselassie Oda & Fitawrari Gebreyesus Oda (Uncles): Pioneers of indigenous Ethiopian enterprise who established Goma Kuteba, the nation’s first rubber retreading factory. Gebreselassie Oda was also the founding president of Saint George FC, a key executive in the Ethiopian Football Federation, and President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce.
The broader Oda family association counts over 450 registered members across generations, organized specifically to preserve family history and maintain tight communal bonds.

                          Qegnazmach Oda Kelecha
                                    │
    ┌───────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────┐
    │                               │                               │
Kegnazmach Gebremeskel Oda    Gebreselassie Oda            Fitawrari Gebreyesus Oda
(Protocol Chief, Builder of  (1st President of St.         (Co-Founder, Goma Kuteba
 National Theatre, Patriot)   George FC, Chamber President)   Rubber Retreading)
    │
Abinet Gebremeskel

Maternal Heritage: Dejazmach Mersha Nahusenay

On his mother’s side, Abinet descends from Dejazmach Mersha Nahusenay, the historical founder and inaugural administrator of Dire Dawa. Appointed by Emperor Menelik II due to his fluency in French, Dejazmach Mersha managed the construction of the Franco-Ethiopian Railway stretch from Djibouti to Dire Dawa, laying the foundation for Dire Dawa’s commercial prominence.

2. Formative Years: St. Joseph School and Early Discipline

Raised in the vibrant neighborhood of Piazza, Abinet’s early education began at traditional priest schools before enrolling at St. Joseph School (SJS) in Addis Ababa.

Abinet credits St. Joseph School’s strict Catholic discipline, moral education (Gibre-Geb), and morning patriotic rituals with forging his principles. Known in his youth for refusing to tolerate disrespect, Abinet recalled a famous schoolyard brawl involving Prince Filip (grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie). After a conflict over a damaged compass, Abinet engaged in a physical confrontation. When summoned to the director’s office, Abinet’s father firmly insisted that no royal privilege interfere: the incident was to be judged purely on standard school disciplinary rules without special treatment.

Outside the classroom, football was a major passion. Abinet played as a central defender (#5) for Dagne FC, coached by St. Joseph’s renowned instructor Girma Tadesse, competing alongside figures who would later become prominent diplomats, such as Ambassador Girma Asmerom.

3. The American Journey: From College Football to D.C. Taxi Activism

In August 1973 (1965 E.C.), just prior to the Ethiopian Revolution, Abinet and his brother Bisrat departed for the United States for higher education.

The 1974 Revolution & Self-Reliance

Studying economics in Michigan, Abinet’s life shifted dramatically when the Derg regime enacted Proclamation 66, nationalizing extra houses, commercial properties, and private enterprises across Ethiopia. Family assets—including the family-owned Ras Shell service station opposite Ras Hotel in Addis Ababa—were seized, abruptly halting financial transfers from home.

Faced with hardship, Abinet took on campus jobs earning the minimum wage of $1.65 per hour and later worked in wood manufacturing plants. Simultaneously, his athletic abilities earned him collegiate sports opportunities, culminating in playing an NCAA championship game at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California before 110,000 spectators.

Leading the 1979 D.C. Taxi Protests

Moving to Washington, D.C. in 1978, Abinet entered the taxicab sector, acquiring and operating cabs. During the 1979 energy crisis, fuel prices surged while D.C. taxi rates (controlled directly by the U.S. Congress) remained artificially low.

                                [1979 Fuel Crisis]
                                         │
                         [Surging Gasoline Costs vs. Fixed Rates]
                                         │
                        [Abinet Elected Association Leadership]
                                         │
            ┌────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────┐
            │                                                         │
   [Capitol Hill Picketing]                                [Rush-Hour Tunnel Blockade]
 (Protesting outside Congress)                       (50 Taxis locked inside Connecticut Ave,
                                                      K Street & 12th Street Tunnels)
                                         │
                                [City Traffic Paralyzed]
                                         │
                            [Congress Grants Fare Increases]

Elected as a key leader in the local taxi drivers’ association, Abinet organized aggressive civil action:

Capitol Picket Lines: Demonstrating directly outside Congress carrying banners demanding fair rates.
The Tunnel Blockade: During peak evening rush hour, Abinet and fellow drivers parked and locked 50 taxis inside major D.C. arteries (including the Connecticut Avenue, K Street, and 12th Street tunnels), turning off engines and walking away.

The tactic completely gridlocked Washington D.C., forcing immediate Congressional hearings that successfully raised taxi rates across the district.

4. The 32-Year Alliance with Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi

Following the Derg’s declaration of a Mixed Economy policy in the late 1980s, Abinet returned to Ethiopia to reclaim confiscated family holdings—successfully recovering the Total service station property.

During this trip, mutual family friend Tadele Yidnekachew introduced Abinet to Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi at the Addis Ababa Hilton. Recognizing Abinet’s organizational skill and background, Al-Amoudi invited him to remain in Ethiopia to manage emerging corporate initiatives.

Key Business Holdings & Clarifications

Their business partnership spanned over three decades, marked by major commercial ventures:

National Oil Ethiopia (NOC): Abinet was granted a 15% equity stake in NOC, one of Ethiopia’s most lucrative petroleum distributors, providing him with substantial personal dividend income.
Bole Towers: A joint venture where Abinet held a 40% stake and Al-Amoudi held 60%, built on land originally acquired by Abinet.
Corporate Structure vs. MIDROC: Abinet clarified that he never served as an officer or shareholder within MIDROC Ethiopia Group (a later corporate restructuring), working instead directly with Al-Amoudi across specific holding entities.
Salary Practices: Abinet noted that throughout his management tenure, he routinely re-deposited his executive salary back into company accounts to alleviate operational cash flow constraints for lower-level employees.

Philanthropy and Public Perception

Addressing longstanding rumors regarding philanthropic allocations, Abinet demarcated his personal giving from Al-Amoudi’s corporate charity:

Major institutional donations, medical evacuations to Bangkok Hospital, and official airline ticket funding were executed strictly under Al-Amoudi’s direct orders and corporate accounting.
Abinet’s independent philanthropic contributions—such as supporting veteran Ethiopian athletes, local sports clubs, and private medical care—were financed through his own NOC dividends and private wealth.

5. The Bitter Fallout and High-Stakes Legal Disputes

While Abinet maintained a brotherly perspective in his interview, his 32-year partnership with Sheikh Al-Amoudi unravelled in a series of intense public battles, corporate purges, civil lawsuits, and criminal probes.

The Corporate Exit (2021)

During Sheikh Al-Amoudi’s three-year detention in Saudi Arabia, Abinet served as CEO overseeing vast networks of Al-Amoudi’s companies. However, following Al-Amoudi’s release and restructuring of MIDROC:

Sacked vs. Resigned: Abinet departed as CEO on July 8, 2021. Abinet maintained he voluntarily resigned, but Al-Amoudi’s appointed leadership (under Jemal Ahmed) publicly stated Abinet was dismissed by Al-Amoudi due to mismanagement.
Revocation of Power of Attorney: On July 15, 2021, Al-Amoudi formally revoked Abinet’s power of attorney, officially ending their corporate association.

The Battle Over Bole Towers PLC

The primary courtroom conflict centered around Bole Towers PLC (60% owned by Al-Amoudi, 40% by Abinet), which manages prime commercial real estate on Africa Avenue around Wello Sefer:

Abinet’s Lawsuit (640 Million Birr Claim): Abinet sued Al-Amoudi, demanding 640.5 million Birr for out-of-pocket construction costs and requesting that either Al-Amoudi exit the partnership or the court dissolve the company.
Al-Amoudi’s Counter-Suit: Al-Amoudi alleged Abinet had misused a 425 million Birr Dashen Bank loan secured in the company’s name and illegally transferred prime investment land plots (plots C and D, totaling 5,354 sqm) into personal ownership.
Court Decisions: Federal courts repeatedly ruled in Al-Amoudi’s favor:
1. Abinet’s petition to dissolve the company or remove Al-Amoudi was rejected.
2. The courts affirmed Al-Amoudi’s right to remove Abinet as General Manager of Bole Towers PLC, upholding the appointment of Ambassador Ali Suleiman.
3. The Federal High Court ordered the disputed land plots returned to Bole Towers PLC and mandated that Abinet repay 304 million Birr of the loan balance plus accrued interest.

                                [Bole Towers PLC Dispute]
                                            │
         ┌──────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────────────────┐
         │                                                                     │
  [Abinet's Lawsuit]                                                  [Al-Amoudi's Counter-Suit]
• Demanded 640M Br for outlays.                                    • Alleged misuse of 425M Br Dashen Bank loan.
• Sought firm's dissolution or Al-Amoudi exit.                      • Claimed illegal transfer of Plots C & D.
         │                                                                     │
         └──────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────┘
                                            │
                                    [Court Rulings]
                   • Dissolution denied; Abinet removed as General Manager.
                   • Disputed plots returned to Bole Towers PLC.
                   • Abinet ordered to repay 304M Br in loan funds.

NOC Dividend Lawsuit

In a separate legal filing, Al-Amoudi counter-sued Abinet for unadjusted dividend fees from National Oil Ethiopia (NOC) spanning 2011 to 2021, demanding recovery of over 800 million Birr out of an estimated two billion Birr in company profit allocations.

Criminal Investigation & Arrest (October 2023)

The escalation extended into criminal law enforcement when Federal Police arrested Abinet at his residence in Piazza, Addis Ababa. He was remanded to the Federal Crime Investigation Bureau over allegations of fraud and illegal land transfers conducted alongside local land registration officials.

Comparison of Major Claims

Issue	Abinet Gebremeskel’s Position	Sheikh Al-Amoudi’s / Court Position
MIDROC Departure	Maintained he voluntarily resigned to pursue personal matters.	Al-Amoudi’s executive team stated he was terminated due to mismanagement.
Bole Towers PLC	Sued for 640M Br outlays; sought dissolution or Al-Amoudi’s exit.	Court rejected dissolution, upheld Abinet’s removal as GM, and ordered him to repay 304M Br.
Land Ownership	Asserted extra land plots were acquired as personal investments.	Courts ruled Plots C and D rightfully belonged to Bole Towers PLC and ordered their return.
NOC Dividends	Held that 15% share dividends were legitimate personal revenue.	Al-Amoudi sued to recover over 800M Br in allegedly uncollected or misdirected funds.