A former
Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has told the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he gave the sum of N2.3bn
to the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, in the run-up to the
Ekiti State governorship election in 2014.
Obanikoro was said to have also told operatives that N60m was converted to dollars at N168 per to a dollar and given to Fayose.
It was learned
on Tuesday that the minister told operatives of the anti-graft
commission, who continued his interrogation in Abuja on Tuesday, that he
personally handed over N5,357,357 to the governor on an occasion.
A top
operative of the commission, who spoke to our correspondent on condition
of anonymity, said Obanikoro told his interrogators that the money was
transferred to Fayose on the instruction of the former National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd.).
The source alleged that following the instructions from the former NSA, the sum of N1.3bn was brought for transfer to Fayose by Diamond Bank in a bullion van.
Obanikoro
was also said to have told the EFCC operatives that Agbele received the
money in the presence of the ex-minister’s Aide De Camp, one Lt.
Adewale, and officials of Diamond Bank at the Lagos airport.
The source added, “The former minister, Obanikoro has made
some revelations. You know that he responded to a petition from the
office of the NSA dated 28/11/2015 under the category ‘Payment without
an award of contracts’.
“He
admitted that N2.23bn was transferred to Macnamara for onward transfer
to Governor Ayodele Fayose. He claimed that it was done on the
instructions of the NSA.
“He also said he handed over N5,357,357 to Fayose.
“Obanikoro
told the commission that the N1.3bn was received by Mr. Biodun Agbele,
one of Fayose’s associates, in the presence of his (Obanikoro) ADC, one
Lt. Adewale, and bank officials.”
The former
minister was said to have told his interrogators that while he had no
interaction with the officials of the bank, he called Fayose to have his
consent to hand over the money to Agbele.
The source
stated that Obanikoro also told his interrogators that Agbele used his
(Obanikoro) mobile to speak to Fayose to confirm receipt of the money.
“Obanikoro also said the money was moved from the Lagos airport to Akure airport in two flights.
“He said
he instructed that the money should be handed over to the governor
before leaving with the first flight,” the source said.
The source
said the ex-defence minister, however, denied ownership of Sylvan
Mcnamara, the company that received N4.685bn from the ONSA between April
4, 2014, and November 13, 2014.
The
anti-graft agency had alleged that Obanikoro’s sons, Babajide and
Gbolahan, were directors in Sylvan Mcnamara as of the time the money was
paid into the company’s account.
The former
minister was quoted to have admitted that he introduced the owner of
the firm, whose name was given as Mr. Kareem Taiwo, to the former NSA in
the days of heightened fear of possible Boko Haram attacks on Lagos and
the South-West.
The source
stated, “He denied being the owner of the company but admitted
introducing the owner of the company, one Mr. Kareem Taiwo, to the NSA
during the days of the threat of Boko Haram in Lagos and the South-West.
“He said
the company was introduced to the ONSA at a time government was taking a
decision to incorporate local input into intelligence gathering to
prevent terrorist attacks in Lagos and the South-West.”
The former minister was being questioned by the commission for receipt of funds from the ONSA without contract awards.
The firm,
which received the money from the ONSA, Mcnamara, was said to be listed
as number 78 among companies that received funds from the ONSA.
Our
correspondent learned that Obanikoro was still being detained by the
EFCC as of the time of fling this report on Tuesday night to continue
with the agency’s investigations on Wednesday.
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Title :
EKITI STATE GOVERNOR AYODELE FAYOSE FINALLY ENTER ARMS DEAL SCANDAL
Description : A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that he gave th...
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