Former minister of state for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly told Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that N1. 2 billion was transfered to Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, in 2014, from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the governorship election.
Obanikoro, who is still in EFCC custody reportedly said the cash was wired into a company, Sylva Mcnamara’s bank account within seven months, in 2014.
A source within the commission said the ex- minister was confronted with water-tight evidence of movement of funds from the ONSA, allegedly using companies belonging to his children, Babajide and Gbolahan as fronts. Obanikoro, who reportedly opened up in EFCC custody, however, insisted he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara, the company which was used to transfer N4.7 billion in 2014.
The former minister also said N1.3 billion was given to Senator Iyiola Omisore, who was governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Osun State election.
Obanikoro was shown proof of how he directed sharing of money to accounts of six Bureaux de Change, in Abuja.
“We confronted him with evidence gathered before he submitted himself for questioning. It is left to him todefend himself,” the source added.
And Obanikoro did defend himself. He allegedly said money was remitted to Mcnamara “to ward off Boko Haram aggression in Lagos and in the South-West in general.”
Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja, the ex-Minister was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015. The petition was titled “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval.”
He said having gone through the petition, he discovered that Sylva Mcnamara was No. 78 on the list of firms being investigated having “collected the aggregate sum of N4,685,000,000 between April 4, 2014 and November 13, 2014.
On how the cash was transferred to Fayose, Obanikoro told investigators that “two flights were used to convey the money from Lagos…”
Monday, March 1, 2021
