Obanikoro relives how N1.2b was allegedly taken to Fayose in 2014

Former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday narrated at a Federal High Court in Lagos State how N1.2 billion was allegedly taken to former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose in an aircraft.

Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud and money laundering.

He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited, on 11 counts.

Obanikoro pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

But he was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.

Fayose also pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was allowed to continue on the bail earlier granted.  When the case was called yesterday, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) announced appearance for the EFCC.

Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) announced appearances for the first and second defendants.

Olanipekun called Obanikoro, the 12th prosecution witness, to testify.

Obanikoro told the court that when he was the Minister of State for Defence, he operated a company, called Sivan Mcmera, which was later utilised for security operations in Lagos.

The ex-minister told the court that it was aimed at shutting out terrorists’ activities from the state, following intelligence reports.

He added that before he became a minister, the company was operated by his son.

Obanikoro testified that his son resigned as a director of the company and the operator of its bank account when it was being used for security purposes.

The ex-minister said he consequently became the operator of the account.

Besides, the witness told the court that the security operations were funded by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

On whether or not he knew Kareem Taiwo (now late), he replied in the affirmative, adding that the man was among those who helped out with security operations.

When asked by the prosecution counsel to look through Exhibit E series and explain the transaction of June 5, 2014, and how it related to the instant case, the witness told the court that there was an inflow of N200 million into the account from the Office of the NSA.

He said although he could not recall exactly how it came in, he could see from the exhibit that there was an inflow of N200 million on June 5, 2014, and N2 billion on June 16, 2014, from an impress account of the NSA.

Obanikoor also said he had received a call from Fayose, who was then a governorship candidate in Ekiti State, asking if he had received any money from the Office of the NSA.

The witness told the court that he replied in the negative and promised to get back to the defendant, if the money arrived.

He said when the money eventually dropped, he informed the defendant and asked how he wanted it sent.

Obanikoro said Fayose indicated that part of it should be in dollars and the other in naira.

According to him, he then called Ado-Ekiti to find out from a bank if it had the amount but was informed that the branch did not have.

He told the court that since elections were fast approaching at the time, he had to take the money by aircraft from Lagos.

The ex-minister said the money was conveyed in two batches: the first batch was loaded in an aircraft which conveyed him, while the remaining was loaded in another aircraft.

Obanikoro added that the total amount was N1.2 billion.

(TNT)