Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro today, appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos to give evidence in the trial of former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose who is facing charges of laundering N6.9 billion.

Ayodele Fayose

TheLagostimes recalls that Fayose was arraigned by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Oct. 22, 2018, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on 11 counts charge.

According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount allowed by law.

He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his Zenith Bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which sum he ought to have known formed part of proceeds of crime.

Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd to retain in their Zenith and FCMB accounts, the aggregate sums of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Besides, he was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum by the court.

However, in court today, Obanikoro who was led in evidence by the counsel for EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) disclosed that as at 2014, he was the Minister of State for Defence. He was then asked to tell the court what he knows in relation to the instant case.

In response, Obanikoro told the court that in June 2014, close to the Ekiti State governorship election, he received a call from Fayose , enquiring from him if there was any message for him from the then National Security Adviser, (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki.

He replied that there was none, but had promised to check with the NSA and revert back, adding that eventually, the NSA confirmed to him that he had a “message” for Fayose and that the funds will be made available.

The prosecutor then showed the witness exhibit E to confirm if it was the account in which the funds were transferred and the witness replied yes. Looking at the exhibit, he told the court that on June 13 and June 16, there were monetary postings into the account, which was from the impress account of the NSA.

He said that he then enquired from Fayose how he wanted the money, and he was informed that some amount should be sent in Naira while the others sent in dollars.

According to him, the money was eventually brought in a bullion van to the private wing of the Ikeja Airport, where one Agbele sent by Fayose, was already on standby, adding that after confirmation from Fayose, the money was lifted to Ekiti.

Obanikoro further told the court that afterwards, he went to Ado-Ekiti to meet Fayose in his Hotel known as Spotless, and there, he handed him the dollar content which amounted to five million dollars.

He further disclosed that the money was given to the ex governor three days to his election. When asked how the money was debited, Obanikoro told the court that he gave instructions to the Managing Director of Diamond Bank, but was not available when the deductions were made.

When asked his connection with the accounts, Obanikoro replied that it was used for security purposes, adding that he does not wish to divulge further evidences on that.

After his evidence, the defence counsels then sought for an adjournment to enable them cross examine the witness, and after several objections, and counter objections, the court eventually granted an adjournment until Feb. 4, 5 and 6 for cross examination.