Onetime Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu
Obanikoro, has informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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 dollar and given to Fayose.
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 The Punch 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 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
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.
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