Embattled former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has
reportedly refunded N100.4 million out of the N785 million a company, Sylvan
McNamara
limited linked to him, received from the former National Security
Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The Nation reports that Obanikoro who has been in EFCC custody since
October 19th, may be released after the N100.4 million he refunded has been
confirmed by the antigraft agency.
An EFCC operative who spoke on condition of anonymity said “After many
days of foot-dragging, the ex-Minister has paid back 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. 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.”
Obanikoro in his statement to the EFCC, had alleged that N3.880 billion
out of the N4.75 billion he collected from Dasuki, was handed to Ekiti state
governor, Ayo Fayose, to rig the state governorship election in June 2014 in
favor of PDP. Obanikoro also alleged
that he handed over $5.377m (N60m then) cash to Fayose at Spotless Hotel,
Ado-Ekiti in the presence of the former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party
in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko, and other party stalwarts. Fayose has since
dismissed this allegation, accusing the Federal government of wanting to rope
him into the case by all means possible since he is always very critical of the
Buhari-led adminisitration.
Commenting on Fayose's denial, the EFCC source said “The governor is just
grandstanding because of 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".
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