The Nation Newspaper

Tag: former Minister of State for Defence

  • A witness and evidence

    Former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro’s answer to a question in court prompted other questions. Obanikoro, a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing trial of former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, can be described as a star witness.

    A March 20 report said: “Under cross-examination by counsel for Spotless Limited, Fayose’s co-accused, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Obanikoro said there was no documentary evidence to back up all he said in court. Ojo asked him: “Did you produce any evidence to back any of your assertions before this court?” Obanikoro answered: “No.” This happened at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Fayose is on trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2 billion and $5 million allegedly stolen from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), contrary to the Money Laundering Act.  Obanikoro had allegedly delivered the money to Fayose to fund the former governor’s 2014 governorship campaign.   The EFCC listed Obanikoro as one of 22 witnesses to testify in the trial.

    Before the trial, in 2016, while Obanikoro was being questioned by the EFCC in connection with the distribution of over N4billion taken from the ONSA, he was quoted as saying: “Out of N4.685billon transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, N3.880billion was transferred to both Ayodele Fayose and Senator Omisore through cash and bank transfers. The dollars contents were handed over to Fayose personally by me in the presence of some party leaders and he collected it and took it to the room next to where we were all seated.”

    Fayose had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge last October. Obanikoro’s testimony was supposed to show that Fayose is guilty. The question is: Can this happen without “documentary evidence?”

    The lawyer’s question, Obanikoro’s response, and Fayose’s claim that he isn’t guilty, present an interesting picture. It suggests that this is a matter of Obanikoro’s word against Fayose’s.

    Obanikoro’s admitted failure to produce any evidence to back any of his assertions before the court could be problematic. Of course, there are other EFCC witnesses in the trial. However, it remains to be seen how Obanikoro’s non-presentation of evidence may affect the final outcome of the trial.

    From the look of things, Obanikoro never expected a day when he would be expected to provide corruption-related evidence against Fayose in court. Their corrupt collaboration, which Obanikoro testified to, will haunt them.

  • Trial of Fayose’s ally: Court chides Ozekhome over delay

    Trial of Fayose’s ally: Court chides Ozekhome over delay

    …Court admits more evidence against Nyako in N29bn fraud trial

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has frowned at the conduct of a defence lawyer in the trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

    Agbele is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro (who was arraigned in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye on 11-count charge in which they are accused of laundering about N1.2 billion.

    The money is said to be part of the N4.7billion allegedly transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by Obanikoro’s son.

    At the last proceedings on May 24, 2017 the court ordered Agbele’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who had applied orally to withdraw appearance for the second defendant – Sylvan McNamara – to file a formal application to that effect within three days and serve copies on other parties in the case.

    Yesterday, Ozekhome was absent, but sent a junior, Godwin Iyinbor, who informed the court that his principal were yet to serve the application as ordered by the court.

    An infuriated lead prosecution lawyer, Wahab Shittu said: “this is a calculated attempt by the learned silk (Ozekhome) to frustrate the trial process and it should be discouraged”.

    Shittu described the development as unhealthy. He noted that the prosecution has consistently produced its witnesses to court at great cost.

    Another defence lawyer, Olalekan Ojo also wrote the court that he was attending an interview for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) slated for Monday and Tuesday at the Supreme Court and sought for an adjournment.

    Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted Ojo’s application, but frowned at Ozekhome’s conduct.

    He ordered service of the application by Ozekhome on parties before the next adjourned date and adjourned to October 12 and 13, 2017.

    Meanwhile, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday admitted in evidence documents tendered by the prosecution in the trial of a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako.

    Nyako is standing trial on a 37-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N29billion. He is being tried with his son, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba.

    Companies that allegedly served as conduit pipes for the illegal diversion of the funds are – Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

    One of the documents tendered by the prosecution yesterday, through the 12th prosecution witness, Caroline Utsaha, showed that N80million deposit was made in a day in the name of Blue Opal Limited; one of the companies allegedly used by the former governor to siphon the state funds.

    The documents tendered and admitted in evidence include: Letter dated July 21, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Blue Opal Limited – Exhibit H1.

    Letter dated August 15, 2014, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Opal Corporate Limited – Exhibit H2.

    Letter dated February 26, 2015, captioned “Re-Investigation Activities”, with the account name – Crust Energy Limited, and was admitted as Exhibit H3.

    Led in evidnce by lead prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Utsaha, a Relationship Manager with First Bank said: “In 2014, the EFCC wrote our Bank, requesting for details of the accounts packages and statements of accounts of three accounts.

    “The accounts were: Blue Opal Limited, Opal Corporate Limited and Crust Energy Limited. I got all they requested and did a forwarding letter to the Commission and also did an identification letter, indicating that the statements and all the documents are from First Bank.”

    When asked to look at Exhibit H1 and tell the court about the transactions therein, the witness said, “The entries here are series of deposits of Zenith bank cheque”.

    She went on: “On March 29, 2012, there were eight deposits of Zenith bank cheque of N10million each. The deposits were done on the same day”.

    Justice Abang later adjourned to July 4, 2017 for the continuation of hearing.

  • ‘We’re vindicated over claim on Ekitigate’

    ‘We’re vindicated over claim on Ekitigate’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said that the revelations by former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has vindicated its claim that Governor Ayodele Fayose’s election on June 21, 2014, was compromised through heavy funding by the Federal Government, which also deployed the military, including compromise of INEC, to give victory to the governor.

    In a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said that Obanikoro’s confession that he gave millions of dollars in cash to Fayose to fix his election had left Nigerians in a clearer picture that Fayose won his election through fraud as the party had always insisted.

    “We said it that Fayose was mobilised by the Federal Government with funds, military and INEC to win his election.

    “Captain Sagir Koli’s tape said it all in an audio recording where Fayose himself said he collected INEC soft copies he printed to win his election before PDP State Secretary, Tope Aluko, told Nigerians through documents how the process was compromised to give victory to Fayose,” he said.

    Olatunbosun also berated the governor for denying the roles of the Federal Government in the manipulation of the election, saying that the revelations by Obanikoro had put a lie to the governor’s claim that Zenith Bank and private individuals funded his election.

    He said: “We have always insisted that Fayose is a fantastic kleptomaniac and a pathological liar whose integrity is in question as declared by an Ekiti State High Court judge in his suit against Femi Falana in a defamation case against the lawyer.

    “It is baffling that Fayose that had been grandstanding that he did not collect money from the Federal Government now has no answer to Obanikoro’s confession other than lying that the former minister was compromised to give his confession to nail him.

    “Fayose as a man obsessed with the life of fraud never believes that anything can be done without committing fraud, that is why he believes that Obanikoro was compromised to give evidence in a matter that was comprehensively documented and that cannot be denied by anybody in this world except Fayose who believes that lies and fraud can do anything for him.”

    Olatunbosun said now that Obanikoro had said it all to corroborate Aluko’s documented facts on the case, Fayose should get himself prepared to face the law.
    “It is now clear why Fayose made himself the spokesman of the opposition criticising every action of the Federal Government and getting himself involved in seditious and treasonable activities to bring President Muhammadu’s administration down.
    “But the game is up. The long arms of the law will eventually catch up with Fayose because whatever a man sows, he shall reap.

    “We agree with Fayose that Buhari should fight hunger, but we also agree that the President should fight those who cause hunger by looting the nation’s treasury of which  Fayose is a major beneficiary as can be seen in his various acts of corruption and so he should get  prepared to face the law because the law is above everybody,” Olatunbosun concluded.

  • Fayose: I didn’t receive Arms cash from Dasuki, Obanikoro

    Fayose: I didn’t receive Arms cash from Dasuki, Obanikoro

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has insisted that he did not receive a dime from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro for the purpose of funding his campaign in the 2014 governorship poll.

    Fayose who is under fire for alleged complicity in the sharing of N4.7 billion being part of the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency in the Northeast alleged that the anti-corruption crusade is being used to settle political scores.

    Speaking on Friday in Ado Ekiti at a rally organized by Ekiti Private Sector Union, an amalgamation of informal unions in the state, Fayose claimed that the ongoing onslaught against him was aimed at taking Ekiti by force by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the next governorship election scheduled for 2018.

    He said Ekiti people will defend the state against the “APC invasion” in 2018 saying he is not afraid of death or incarceration in the process of defending the mandate given to him at the June 21, 2014 election.

    The governor maintained that the freezing of his personal bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was “politically motivated and intended to silence a credible voice of opposition against a dictatorial government.”

    Fayose said: “They said I collected a sum of N1.3 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki to fund my election. Some even said I collected it through Mr Musiliu Obanikoro. Let me put it on records that I did not know Col Dasuki and Obanikoro has not come out openly to indict me, because he has not returned from abroad .

    “They said similar thing in 2006. It was all about second term then, because they didn’t want me to contest for second term. They said the N1.3b project which I initiated was a scam, but God brought me back. The APC and  EFCC conspirators took me before a Judge and I got justice.

    “When God says yes, nobody can say no. God has given me uncommon favour over my enemies. I am presently using the mandate of God and Ekiti people and they are ready to defend the mandate and that is why you proudly came out today to express support for me.

    “Nigerians have never had it so bad like this. People are suffering and hungry and President Buhari says he is fighting corruption. How can the FG increase fuel from N86 to N145? The price of kerosene is now over N200.

    “No act of intimidation and harassment will shut my mouth. I will continue to talk about national issues. When you want to campaign or do marriage, people will give you money and my own can’t be an exemption. I am not afraid of incarceration or death.

    “APC problem is 2018 and as the God liveth, they are going nowhere. We will stand up and defend our state and the money they said they have gotten through anti-corruption should be spent for Nigerians.”

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Chairman, Clement Adekola, his Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) counterpart and Okada Riders Association boss, Niyi Dahunsi were inaugurated as Ekiti Private Sector Union Chairman, Secretary and Vice Chairman respectively, among other executive members.

    The newly-inaugurated Union pledged their allegiance to Fayose and called on the EFCC to stop distracting Fayose.

    Adekola warned the APC against destabilizing Ekiti over the loss it suffered during  the 2014 governorship poll.

    Agbede asserted that the alleged conspiracy between the federal government and the opposition will fail and won’t materialize, just as he condemned alleged use of federal might  to rattle the governor.