– Obanikoro has revealed how much he gave Fayose in the N4.7bn fraud case, it was N2.23billion
– He insists that the money was to ward offof a plot by Boko Haram to attack Lagos
– Obanikoro said he was not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara Limited that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose
Senator Musiliu
ObanikoroThe controversy surrounding the surrender and detention of former minister of state fordefense, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is set to take on an explosive tone as he has now pointed fingers at Ekiti state governor.
Obanikoro has implicated Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state in the N4.745billion wired to a company linked to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).
The money in question was wired into a company named Sylva Mcnamara within a period of seven months in 2014. Obanikoro revealed that N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose out of the slush funds.
The detained Obanikoro who surrendered himself to the EFCC also said that out of the sum, he handed over $5,377,000 to Fayose in cash and N1.3billion, this was received by the governor’s associate, Mr Abiodun Agbele.
He also admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele. All this money was sourced from $2.1billion meant for arms from the ONSA.
Obanikoro said he was not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose. Yet, he defended why the money was remitted to Mcnamara saying that it was to ward off of a plot by Boko Haram to attack Lagos.
When he was was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015 that was titled: “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval.”
Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr James Onoja(SAN), he said 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.
According to the Nation, he was quoted as sayong: “The sum of N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the NSA.
“The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.
“In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000was handed over in cash by me to Mr Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr Fayose’s associate, Mr Abiodun Agbele in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp(ADC), Lt Adewale who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.
“I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoketo Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.
”When he was asked how the money was transferred to Fayose, Obanikoro said that two flights were used to convey the money from Lagos.
He also said:“I took off with the first flight with part of the money while the second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure local airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person.
”Denying the allegations of fraud, he said part of the cash was used to ward off Boko Haram aggression in Lagos and in the South-West in general.
According to the EFCC source:“He told us that he is not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.
“He said the government wanted to “incorporate local input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the South-West in general.
”From investigation, the EFCC had discovered that Sylva Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons,was used to launder the N4.745billion.
Sylva Mcnamara Limited was incorporated in November 2011 and it had the following directors: a close aide of the ex-Minister, Ikenna Ezekwe(700,000 shares) of 51 Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta; Idowu Oshodi(299,000 shares) of 8, Prince Tayo Adesanya Street, Park View Estate, Ikoyi; and Elizabeth Adebiyi(1,000 shares) of 3, Adedoyin Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere.
However, Mr Ikenna Ezekwe has had his accounts de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.
According to the EFCC document:“To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors onMay 7, 2012 passed a resolution that the company should open an account and appointed Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro, Ikenna Ezekwe, Ms Theresa Matuluko (Secretary) and Mr Babajide Obanikoro as the signatories to the account.
“The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.
”Meanwhile, according to his counsel, Musiliu Obanikorois to remain in the custody of the EFCC till Tuesday,October 18, 2016.
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