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Tag: Musiliu Obanikoro

  • Obanikoro commends Ambode for sustaining indigenous culture

    Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, has commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s drive in sustaining and upholding indigenous cultures, traditions and norms of Lagos State.
    Obanikoro who served as a Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007, gave the commendation while speaking with the News men in Lagos on Tuesday.
    The senator who later served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana said that the increase in technological advancement was a challenge to cultural growth in the country.
    “Modernisation is taking over the world and our youths want to follow the trend. “Our youths have been carried away by Western culture, which is not encouraging.

    Read Also: Ambode connects Ogun with 21 roads, two bridges

    “I appreciate Gov. Ambode’s drive in reviving some of the old cultures and traditions that include: the boat regatta, the `Lagos Street Carnival’, `One Lagos fiesta’ and others.
    “This shows the administration’s interest and passion for upholding the state’s rich culture and traditions, ‘’ he said.
    Obanikoro said that the development of these cultural heritages would expose the city to international visitors.
    “It will also attract local and foreign visitors as well as investors to the state, ‘’ he said.
    He also lauded the state government for investing more in culture, tourism and entertainment in order to prevent them from being eroded by western influence.
    Obanikoro said that culture was a way of exhibiting a community’s ways of life and traditions and they should be preserved by their custodians.

    NAN

  • Obanikoro finally joins APC, says ‘I’m on a mission’

    Obanikoro finally joins APC, says ‘I’m on a mission’

    A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, on Saturday in Lagos finally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Obanikoro’s defection at his Lagos Island constituency ended months of speculations about the status of his political allegiance.

    There were earlier reports that he had settled his differences with the national leader of APC, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a step to joining the ruling party.

    Though Obanikoro acknowledged reconciliation with Tinubu, he had neither denied nor confirmed plans to join his political mentor in APC.

    He, however, finally gave the hint of his defection during a television interview on Thursday.

    Obanikoro defected to the APC along with other PDP bigwigs in the state, including a former aide of former president Good luck Jonathan, Mrs Modupe Sasore.

    Others are a national officer of the PDP, Mr Jide Damazio, and another PDP chieftain, Chief Kola Balogun.

    They were received by chieftains of APC, including the state chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale; Alhaji Kashim Imam, Chief James Odunbaku as well as the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr Adeniji Kazeem who represented Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Past and serving members of the National Assembly including Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa and Rep. Jide Jimoh were among APC bigwigs present.

    Presenting the APC flag to Obanikoro and others, Ajomale said the coming of the former minister and others meant the opposition was totally dead in the state.

    He described Obanikoro as politically experienced and sagacious, and said his joining the party would no doubt add to the electoral fortune of the party in the state.

    “We are happy to receive Obanikoro back in our fold. He was with us when we started the Alliance for Democracy (AD) but he decided to go the other way.

    “Thank God he has realised his mistake and he is back. We are indeed happy to get back this big fish, along with others.

    “Obanikoro is an asset and he will no doubt add value to our party,” he said.

    Obanikoro, in his speech, said he was happy to return to the fold of his age-long political associates after his long sojourn in the PDP.

    He said he defected because he couldn’t find fulfillment in the PDP and he joined the ruling party because he had a mission to render service on its platform.

    The ex-minister said his former party could not offer him the platform for the kind of service he wanted to render.

    “Today, I and others are not just joining the APC for joining sake, we are joining because we are on a mission.

    “I had joined the PDP a few years ago with the hope that certain things would be done right to enable me make the desired impact. That did not happen.

    “And now, Asiwaju Tinubu has taken leadership to another level, not only in the state, but at the national level.

    “So, my joining the APC is not by accident. It is to return to my people and seek a platform on which I can render service to my people, because leadership is about service and co-ordination of talents to achieve results.

    “We have looked everywhere, and the only party that offers that platform for service delivery is the APC.

    “For me, this is not really a defection; it is a home-coming, because in a way, this is my root. I am happy to return to my people; no place like home,” he said.

    Obanikoro praised the leadership style of Tinubu, which he said had ensured the development of the state.

    He thanked Tinubu for being magnanimous to accept him back in the fold after years of altercations between them.

    “I thank Tinubu for his magnanimity. I am here because he is generous and has a forgiving heart. If it were other leaders, they will say ‘God forbid’.

    “He has accepted me back despite all the issues between us, I am grateful to him,” Obanikoro said.

    The former minister said he we would do his best to add value to his new party.

    Also, Sasore and Balogun took turns to thank the party for allowing them into the fold.

    They said they could not find fulfillment in PDP hence, the decision to join APC.

    The duo promised to do their best to ensure APC progresses in the state.

    Imam, in his remark, said the party was happy to receive Obanikoro and others.

    He said the defection meant the party was the only party in the state, as it marked the end of PDP.

    The National Vice-Chairman of the APC (South West), Chief Puis Akinyelure, who represented Tinubu, said the party was glad with the home-coming of Obanikoro and others

    He said the defection meant the PDP was dead as Obanikoro was one of its pillars in the state.

    It was a carnival-like ceremony as party faithful danced and sang to receive Obanikoro and the others.

    A popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, was on hand to thrill those present.

    NAN

  • 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.

  • Obanikoro’s suit: NBC wants N96.8m judgment-debt order quashed

    Obanikoro’s suit: NBC wants N96.8m judgment-debt order quashed

    The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) on Wednesday urged an Ikeja High Court to dismiss a garnishee order in respect of a N96.8m judgment in favour of a Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obanikoro had in 2010 sued the NBC at an Edo High Court for damages over a fatal accident involving his daughter, Abidemi.

    Obanikoro’s co-applicants in the suit are his daughter, Miss Abidemi Obanikoro, and Mrs Agnes Akele, the wife of his driver.

    On May 13, 2007, Abidemi, her friend, Miss Ibukun Adeniyi, Obanikoro’s driver and a police orderly had set out from Lagos to Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo, Abidemi and Adeniyi’s school.

    During their trip, a NBC vehicle which was alleged by the applicants to be driven recklessly crashed into the senator’s vehicle killing all occupants with the exception of Abidemi.

    Abidemi, who was badly injured, was immediately flown to South Africa for life-saving medical treatment.

    In 2010, Obanikoro sued the NBC for damages at the Edo High Court, Auchi. Because the accident occurred within its jurisdiction.

    On June 2, 2016, the Edo High Court granted a judgment in favour of Obanikoro and his co-applicants to the tune of N96.8 million.

    The court had ordered that N1.5million should be awarded to Obanikoro as expenses incurred on behalf of his late driver and police orderly.

    It awarded 184,236.52 dollars (N76.69 million) as cost for medical expenses for Abidemi’s treatment in South Africa and 48,779.66 South African Rand (N1.07 million) for her hotel accommodation in South Africa.

    The court also awarded N10 million to Akele for the pain and suffering over the death of her husband, the driver of the car.

    Obanikoro’s daughter was also awarded N10 million as general damages for her pain and suffering while N500, 000 was awarded as costs of the action.
    NAN reports that although the NBC appealed the amount awarded in favour of the applicants, Obanikoro, through his lawyer, Mr. Lawal Pedro, (SAN), had registered the judgment before the Lagos High Court because NBC’s headquarters is located in Lagos.

    The one-time senator subsequently got a garnishee order from an Ikeja High Court against five banks where the NBC had accounts and the NBC appealed the order.
    During proceedings on Wednesday, counsel to the NBC, Mr. Ademola Olawoye, in an application requested that the court should set aside the garnishee order as it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.
    He argued that any adjudication on the case should be stalled pending the outcome of the appeal at the Court of Appeal.
    Olawoye argued that since an appeal had been filed in respect of the judgment delivered by Edo High Court, no other court could adjudicate on the matter.
    Counsel to the applicants, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), however, told the court to disregard the argument of the NBC, noting that there was no evidence before the court that they had appealed the N96.8m judgment.
    He drew the court’s attention the fact that the appeal form which was presented to the court by the NBC as proof that they had filed an appeal at a higher court had no official Court of Appeal stamp and appeal number.
    “The order for stay of proceedings purportedly obtained by the judgment-debtor cannot prevent a garnishee proceeding.
    “Garnishee actions are a separate proceeding and cannot be affected by stay of execution of the judgment obtained from the Edo High Court,” Pedro said.

    Pedro urged the court to disregard the argument of the NBC and allow the garnishee order to be executed.
    Justice Kazeem Alogba adjourned the case until July 11 for ruling.

     

  • PDP commiserates with Obanikoro over mother’s death

    PDP commiserates with Obanikoro over mother’s death

    The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday condoled with the former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, over the death of his mother, Alhaja Wosilat Obanikoro.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhaja Obanikoro died at the age 95 years on Saturday at her residence in Lagos.

    She was buried same day at the Ikoyi Cemetery according to Islamic rites.

    Mr. Taofik Gani, the state’s Publicity Secretary of the party, said in Lagos that the party shared in the grief of the Obanikoros at this point in time.

    He said the family was important to the party because the former minister was a chieftain of the party, who had held many political offices on the party’s platform.

    “We commiserate with him as a chieftain of our party and one who has held several privileged political offices using our platform, PDP.

    “The Obanikoro family is important to us and we use this period to implore him to increase his dedication to sincere public service.

    “May the soul of late Madam Obanikoro rest in peace and may God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said.

  • ‘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.

  • ‘How Fayose, Obanikoro, Dasuki shared N4.7b’ – EFCC

    ‘How Fayose, Obanikoro, Dasuki shared N4.7b’ – EFCC

    *Court remands Ekiti Gov’s ally in Kuje prison

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday gave details of how Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, former National Security Adviser (NSA),  Sambo Dasuki and ex-Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro  allegedly removed N4,685,723,000 from the account of the Office of the NSA (ONSA), which they subsequently distributed.

    The EFCC, which formally arraigned an associate of Fayose, Abiodun Agbele before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday  in relation to the purportedly diverted funds, made public its findings on how the money was allegedly distributed.

    The commission, in a court document, said its investigation into the “alleged dissipation of public funds and abuse of office” by Dasuki led it discover that between April 4 and November 13, 2014 Obanikoro conspired with Fayose and Dasuki “to fraudulently remove the sum of N4,685,723,000 from the account of ONSA, which sum was fraudulently transferred to a company known as Sylvan Mcnamara  Ltd, with account No; 0026223714 domiciled with Diamond Bank Plc.

    “Upon the receipt of the proceeds of crime, Musliu Obanikoro (the then Minister of Defence for State) fraudulently conveyed the sum of N1,219,490,000 to Akure to the use of Mr. Ayodele Fayose. On the 17th and 18th day of June 2014, one Mr. Alade Oluseye (staff of Zenith Bank, Akure branch) in company of defendant/applicant (Abiodun Agbele, a front of Mr. Ayodele fayose) went to the Akure Airport and took delivery of the said sum from Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro and others.

    “On the 18th June 2014 the appellant, Abiodun Agbele received an instruction Mr. Ayodele Fayose to collect the money and he thereafter made cash deposit in the sum of N219,490,000 to De privateer Ltd account No:1013835889 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc. Agbele is the operator and sole signatory of the Zenith Bank Plc account No:1013835889 belonging to De Privateer Ltd.

    “On the 19th of June 2014 the defendant/applicant also made cash deposit in the sum of N300,000,000 being proceeds from the N1,219,490,000 into the said De privateer Ltd account. On 23rd the defendant/applicant deposited the sum of N200,000,000 into Zenith Bank account No: 1003126654 in the name of Ayodele Fayose.

    “The defendant/applicant, in further dissipating the funds, being proceeds of the crime, carried out various transactions including payments to Spotless Investment Ltd, Still Earth Ltd, etc on the instruction and for the benefit of Mr. Ayodele Fayose,” the EFCC said in a counter affidavit filed against a bail application by Agbale.

    Earlier, the court took Agbele’s plea on the 11-count charge of money laundering brought against him and three companies – Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, De Privateer Ltd and Spotless Investment Ltd. He pleaded not guilty following which his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued his bail application, to which lead prosecution lawyer, Jonson Ojogbane objected on the grounds that Agbele would jump bail and interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail.

    A detective with the EFCC, Samson Oloje, who deposed to the counter-affidavit, described Agbele as “a flight risk” and that he has “perfected plans to flee from the country until he was arrested.

    “The applicant in conjunction with Musiliu Obanikoro (now at large) colluded to move and aid the escape of Olalekan Ogunseye, a principal suspect in this case, out of Nigeria and if released on bail, will also flee from jurisdiction.

    “The defendant/applicant, prior to his arrest, was still in contact with the said Olalekan and plans have also been concluded to get the defendant out of the country by Musiliu Obanikoro and his principal, Ayodele Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti State.”

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, after listening to arguments by parties on the bail application, adjourned to today for ruling. He ordered that Agbele be remanded in Kuje prison pending the ruling.

    In count one of the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/154/2016, Agbele is accused of conspiring with Obanikoro (now at large), Sylvan Mcnamara ltd, A. O. Adewale (now at large), Tunde Oshinowo (now at large) and Olalekan Ogunseye (now at large), while being sole signatory to the Zenith Bank account  of Sylvan Mcnamara ltd,  between April 4 and November 13, 2014 “to commit illegal act to wit: laundering the sum of N4,685,723,000,000 being sum transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser with Central Bank of Nigeria by Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    He was, in count two, alleged to have worked with banikoro, Lt. A. O. Adewale (now at large) and Dr. Tunde Oshinowo (now at large) “on or about 17th of June 2015 directly take possession or control of the sum of N1,219,000,000 being part of the N4,685,723,000,000” allegedly removed from the ONSA account with CBN..

    Agbele was in counts three, accused of paying N100milion into a Zenith Bank account No: 1010170969 belonging to Spotles Investment Ltd around June 17, 2015. He was, in count five said to have around June 18, 2014 “di retain the sum of N219,490,000 in Zenith Bank account number 1013835889 belonging to De Privateer  Ltd (while he was the company’s Managing Director).

    Agbele was accused, in count eight, of transferring, on or about 26th June 2014, N137m “into the account of fayose Ayodele domiciled in Zenith Bank, Akure branch with account number: 1003126654,” when he ought to have reasonably known that the funds formed part of the proceeds of “unlawful activity of Dasuki and Obanikoro to wit: Criminal breach of trust and fraud.”

    The defendant was further accused, in count 11 of converting about N263m to personal use while he was the Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) around June 17, 2015.

  • #Dasukigate: Obanikoro accuses EFCC of evidence forgery

    #Dasukigate: Obanikoro accuses EFCC of evidence forgery

    Former Minister of State, Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of plans to manufacture receipts from blank letter headed papers collected from his Lagos home.

    He raised the alarm Friday evening through his media aide, Jonathan Eze.

    Obanikoro who disclosed that the blank letter headed papers were among the things carted away during the raid of his home, added that the anti-graft agency was planning to use them to forge acknowledgement reciepts.

    The former Minister is currently being investigated by EFCC alongside his sons over their alleged collection of N4.7billion from embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

    “Recall that when the EFCC illegally raided my houses in Lagos, they went away with various documents which included blanked signed letter headed papers as testified in the Affidavit sworn in Court.

    “It has however come to my notice that the EFCC has allegedly written an acknowledgement on one of the document purportedly as evidence that I collected the equivalent sum of one million dollars in cash from a Bureau De Change and signed for it.

    “This is another lie from the pit of hell. How can anybody change money from a Bureau De Change and sign for it? I still insist that throughout my stay as Minister, I never collected any money from any Bureau De Change and as such, I urge the public to ignore the EFCC who are trying to skew up investigations in its favour.

    “The EFCC has obviously betrayed public trust by its latest sinister plan of manufacturing receipt in my name. Instead of genuinely carrying out its mandate, it has been grossly overshadowed by political wiles,” he said.

    Continuing, Obanikoro recalled a media report quoting EFCC they had evidence of his receiving the cash.
    “The paper said: the owner of A.A. G. B. S Oil and Gas confirmed to us that the company is a BDC but was only bearing the name of an oil company. He confirmed that he received N168m from Sylvan McNamara and $1million was delivered to Obanikoro in cash while he was the Minister of State for Defence based on the exchange rate at the time. Obanikoro acknowledged receipt of the cash and we have recovered evidence.”

  • 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.

  • EFCC raids Obanikoro’s Lagos homes

    EFCC raids Obanikoro’s Lagos homes

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Lagos residences of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, carting away cars and other valuables.

    The two homes raided were the former minister’s private residence at Park View Estate and the house near Banana Island where his two sons, Jide and Gbolahan live with their families.

    The Nation learnt that the officials, who stormed the two houses in the afternoon, were there till about 6:00pm.

    According to Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, the officials took vehicles, wristwatches and other personal effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all in the United States.

    Eze claimed that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.

    “Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday in their characteristic Gestapo like manner invaded Senator Obanikoro’s houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.

    “This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti- graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.

    “We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.

    “Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.

    “We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.

    “To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously had no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.

    “We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of Inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of Law.

    Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his Lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution,”  Eze stated.

    Confirming the raid, Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren, said it was in line with ongoing investigations.

    “I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives who went there conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away but that will be made known in due time. I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there,” he said.