A former minister of defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has undertaken a commitment with the EFCC to offset the balance sum N785million allegedly collected from the office of the NSA after refunding N100.4m
A top source at the EFCC says Governor Fayose’s trial is being deferred due to the immunity he currently enjoys
A former minister of defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, may soon be released from detention after he paid N100.4million out of about N785million allegedly collected from the office of national security adviser (ONSA) by Sylvan McNamara Limited, a company which was allegedly linked to him.
The Nation reports that Obanikoro made the payment on Friday, October 28, and has also undertaken a commitment with the EFCC to offset the balance sum.
His release is subject to the confirmation of the N100.4m in the relevant account.
But the refund by the ex-minister does not stop him from being tried by the EFCC for alleged graft.
A top source in the anti-graft agency, who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed the refund of N100.4million out of about N785million allegedly linked to the former minister.
The source said: “I think we may grant him bail to give him time to look for the balance of the cash. We are trying to verify the government account he paid into and we want to confirm the payment. We may release him any moment from now after the confirmation.
“This, however, does not mean that we are dropping any charges against him. Our objective is first of all to recover the illegal funds. The decision on his trial will depend on the review of his case and the extent to which he is liable.
“You know the ex-Minister has admitted flying over N1.299billion to Akure in two shuttles for Governor Ayodele Fayose. The cash was collected by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele, who is currently on trial.
“Obanikoro also confessed that he personally gave $5.377m (N60m then) cash to Fayose. He admitted on oath that he was used to siphon public funds meant for arms purchase. These are all criminal offences which are punishable by the nation’s laws.
“The testimonies of Obanikoro will hasten his trial and ongoing prosecution of all the suspects implicated in the arms cash.”
As regards Fayose, the source said the governor’s trial is being deferred due to the immunity he enjoys.
“He personally admitted collecting money from Zenith Bank as a campaign gift. His associate, Agbele, reeled out how houses were bought from the N1.299billion brought by Obanikoro. And the ex-Minister has finally nailed him with his statement on oath.
“Fayose has a date with the court. It is just a matter of time. In two years, he will be in the dock to account for the contracts he executed in the ONSA to have earned such slush funds,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Governor Ayodele Fayose has denied receiving N5.7 billion for the Ekiti guber poll in 2014 from former minister of state for defense, Musiliu Obanikoro who is currently in EFCC’s custody.
In an interview with Daily Sun, Fayose said he suspects that EFCC and the FG want to nail him at all cost. He said he wouldn’t want to join issues with EFCC or Obanikoro adding that he remembered Obanikoro was firing very serious salvos at the EFCC before now.
He accused Obanikoro of looking for ways out of the quagmire as his house was seized, his bank accounts were frozen and all that.
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