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Tag: Obanikoro

  • Obanikoro: I gave Fayose $5.37m cash for Ekiti poll

    Obanikoro: I gave Fayose $5.37m cash for Ekiti poll

    ‘Dasuki ordered release
    of N2.2b to governor’

    Ex-minister defends action

    DETAINED former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro has implicated Governor Ayodele Fayose in the probe of the N4.745billion wired to a company by the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA).

    The cash was wired to Sylva Mcnamara, which has been linked to Obanikoro within seven months in 2014.

    Sen. Obanikoro said of the cash, N2.23billion was transferred to Fayose.

    He handed Fayose $5,377,000 in cash and N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.

    Obanikoro admitted that the N1.3billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.

    The money was sourced from the $2.1billion meant for arms purchase at the ONSA.

    Obanikoro told Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) detectives that he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.

    But he defended why the money was remitted to Mcnamara. Part of the reason is the warding off of a plot by Boko Haram to attack Lagos, he claimed.

    Accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. James Onoja(SAN), the ex-minister was confronted with a petition from ONSA which was dated November 28, 2015.

    The petition is titled “Payment to companies with no contract awards or approval”.

    He said having gone through the petition, 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.

    A source quoted Obanikoro as saying that “N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the National Security Adviser (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 $5,377,000 was 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 spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”

    On how the cash was transferred to Fayose, the source said Obanikoro told investigators that “two flights were used to convey the money from Lagos”.

    The ex-minister said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money. The second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person,” he was quoted as saying.

    The source said Obanikoro however maintained that part of the cash was used to ward off Boko Haram aggression in Lagos and in the Southwest.

    The source added: “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 Southwest”.

    The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745billion.

    The company, which was incorporated in November 2011, has the following as its directors: the ex-Minister’s aide, 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.

    Ezekwe has had his accounts defrozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.

    The Nation stumbled on a document on the investigation. t states: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 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.”

    According to EFCC, when it was time to draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as a war chest for the Ekiti governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.

    The breakdown of the disbursement is as follows:

    • N N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through Bureau de change;
    • N160million used to purchase cars through Balmoral International Limited;
    • N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to Akure and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; and
    • balance of about N2billion withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

    Some of the bureau de change involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them include  A.A.G.B.S Oil and Gas  (N168,000,000.00); Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd (N167,500,000.00); Northline Ltd (N835,000.00);  Northline Ltd (N83,750,000.00); Five Star Ltd N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A Trading Ent (N268,301,500.00); Villagolf Bureau De Change (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd  (N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes  (20,000,0000); Northline Ltd (N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).

     

  • N4.7b arms cash scandal: EFCC detains Obanikoro

    N4.7b arms cash scandal: EFCC detains Obanikoro

    Ex-minister also grilled on alleged N4.7b fraud

    He’s being detained, says aide

    An aide to Senator Obanikoro, Mr. Jonathan Eze, in a statement last night said the former minister had been detained by the anti-graft agency.
    The statement said: “Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the immediate past minister of defence and foreign affairs arrived in Abuja this morning (yesterday) and headed straight for the office of the EFCC.
    “This is consequent upon an invitation sent to him by the anti-graft body, which was received on June 15, 2016, coincidentally at a time and period he was pursuing academic postgraduate degree in the United States.
    “As at now, interrogations have ended and it will continue tomorrow. However, the minister shall remain with the operatives for further questioning tomorrow. (today).
    “The officials were impressed with his decision to honour their invitation and so far, there has been mutual cooperation and understanding between the agency and my principal.
    “We wish to use this medium to commend the EFCC for the mature way they went about the interrogations. They were truly professional.
    “Senator Obanikoro has served this country at every level from local government chairman till his appointments as minister twice and he is proud of his contributions so far. He is not a fugitive as has been erroneously painted in the media and his returning to the country on his own volition is a further testimony to this.”

    Former Minister of State for Defence  Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday surrendered  to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), which is probing his role in the alleged disbursement of N4.745billion for the Ekiti State 2014 governorship election. The cash is believed to have come from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The anti-graft commission began the grilling of the ex-Minister at about 2pm.

    The EFCC, said a source, was making efforts to secure a court order to keep Obanikoro in detention for the duration of his interrogation.

    Also sighted at the EFCC yesterday was a former Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Tope Aluko, who was a witness to how about N1.299billion was flown to the state to influence the governorship poll in 2014.

    It was learnt that Aluko may be a star witness against Obanikoro, Governor Ayodele Fayose and Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (Alias Abbey).

    Obanikoro arrived in Abuja at about 10am, but the EFCC team did not start attending to him until about 2pm.

    Clad in a white kaftan, Obanikoro, who looked trim, was seen at the EFCC’s office at about 1.40pm in company of the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and five others.

    He was smiling and shaking hands with people, including reporters.

    The presence of Aluko pointed to a likely encounter with Obanikoro in the interrogation room.

    A source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “While were are preparing to declare him wanted, the ex-minister surrendered to the EFCC for interrogation in respect of the probe of alleged N4.745billion fraud.

    “Obviously, Obanikoro is the long-awaited suspect and we believe his coming will assist us in the investigation of how the money was sourced from the $2.1billion meant for arms from the Office of the National Security (ONSA).

    “We have grilled him for more than three hours but this may take some days. It is about 90 per cent certain that we are not likely to release him.

    “We need to interact also with his sons and daughter, based on the evidence at our disposal.”

    Earlier, in a WhatsApp message, Obanikoro said:  “I am in Abuja, just wanted to be the one to tell you.”

    The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a company believed to be owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745billion.

    The company, which was incorporated in November 2011, has as its directors an 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.

    Ezekwe’s accounts have been de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.

    A document on the investigation states: “To set the stage for the use of the company for money laundering, the board of directors on May 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 signatories to the account.

    “The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”

    According to the EFCC, when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.”

    The breakdown of the disbursement is as follows:  N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through bureau de change firms; N160million spent on cars through Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to Akure for Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about N2billion allegedly withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

    Some of the bureaux de change involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them are:  A.A.G.B.S Oil and Gas  (N168,000,000.00); Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd (N167,500,000.00); Northline Ltd (N835,000.00);  Northline Ltd (N83,750,000.00); Five Star Ltd N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A Trading Ent (N268,301,500.00); Villagolf Bureau De Change (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd  (N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes  (20,000,0000); Northline Ltd (N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).

    The EFCC probe showed how N1.299 billion was flown to Akure Airport on June 12, 2014, to Fayose through Agbele.

    A report on the investigation reads: “On June 12, 2014, N1.299 billion was flown from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu Obanikoro through a chartered plane with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.

    “The N1.299 billion was in two consignments but flown in the same aircraft twice in the morning and in the evening. “From FAAN records, the first cash of N724, 500,000 arrived at Akure Airport at an estimated time of 9.38am and the second was at 17.57hours.

    “A bullion van was brought to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to evacuate the cash to Plot 13 Alagbaka Estate, Akure.

    “Obanikoro handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey).”

     

  • EFCC: Dasuki, Obanikoro, Fayose removed N4.6b from ONSA account

    EFCC: Dasuki, Obanikoro, Fayose removed N4.6b from ONSA account

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro and Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose removed N4,685,723,000 from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) between April 4 and November 13, 2014, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged.

    This is contained in some documents filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele, was arraigned yesterday by the EFCC for alleged diversion of the fund.

    Agbele was arraigned along with three companies – Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, De privateer Ltd, and Spotless Investment Ltd – on an 11-count charge of money laundering.

    He pleaded not guilty, following which his lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) moved a motion for his bail.

    But EFCC counsel Johnson Ojogbane objected to the request, arguing that Agbele would run away if granted bail and also interfere with prosecution witnesses.

    The EFCC said its investigation into alleged dissipation of public funds and abuse of office by Dasuki led to the discovery of the Dasuki, Obanikoro, Fayose conspiracy to “fraudulently remove” the N4.685 billion from the ONSA account.

    The cash, it claimed, was transferred to a company, Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, with account number 0026223714 with Diamond Bank Plc.

    In a counter-affidavit deposed to against Agbele’s bail request, EFCC alleged: “Upon the receipt of the proceeds of crime, Obanikoro (the then Minister of Defence for State) fraudulently conveyed the sum of N1,219,490,000 to Akure for the use of Mr. Fayose. On the 17th and 18th of June 2014, one Mr. Alade Oluseye (official of Zenith Bank, Akure branch) in company of the defendant/applicant (Abiodun Agbele, a front of Mr. Fayose) went to the Akure Airport and took delivery of the said sum from Mr. Obanikoro and others.

    “On the 18th June 2014 the appellant, Agbele, received an instruction from Mr. 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 the 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. Fayose.”

    In the counter-affidavit deposed to by Detective Samson Oloje, the EFCC described Agbele as “a flight risk” who has “perfected plans to flee the country before he was arrested.

    “The applicant in conjunction with 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, he 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, Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti State.”

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba will today rule on the bail application. 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 ONSa account with Central Bank of Nigeria by Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    He was, in count two, alleged to have worked with Obanikoro, and Dr. Tunde Oshinowo (now at large) “on or about 17th of June 2015 to 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 count 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 “did 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, N137million “into the account of Fayose 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 N263million to personal use while he was the Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) around June 17, 2015.

  • N1.2b packed in 65 bags for Obanikoro in dawn airport operation – Witness

    N1.2b packed in 65 bags for Obanikoro in dawn airport operation – Witness

    • How Fayose took over cash meant for six beneficiaries

    Imagine what effort goes into loading 65 bags containing N1.2billion raw cash into a plane.

    Revelations coming from a witness in the alleged diversion of that sum by former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for the prosecution of the 2014 governor election in the state, said it took ten hours, and two aircraft over three flights.

    Head of Cash-In-Trust Service of Diamond Bank, Damola Otuyalo, said in a statement of oath to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) that the money was first taken to the Ikeja Airport at dawn in 65 bags before being  dispatched to Ekiti State via the Akure airport.

    It was also gathered that the cash, which was originally released for   six beneficiaries – Santuraki Bello (N200m); Yusuf Bulama (N120m); Chimenum Njoku (N250m); Josiah Moses (N280m); Abubakar Sadiq Zanna (N200m); and Franklin Tolani (N150m)- was  diverted to Fayose by Obanikoro under the pretence  that the six persons could not be located.

    Otuyalo, in his oath, said:”On the N1.2billion, my director, Mr. Premier Oiwoh informed me about the payment on the 10th of June 2014. Cash was gathered together on the 17th of June and was taken to the location where I was told to take it to.

    “The location was the private wing of the Lagos Airport and date was on the 17th of June 2014.

    “We got to the private wing before 7am in the morning and left the airport at 4pm in the afternoon. The cash was bagged in cash bags totaling about 65 and everything was offloaded from the bullion van.

    “What I mean by cash was gathered was that as part of routine of the unit, we normally evacuate branches that have excess cash and either move it to branches with low cash or move it to CBN or swap with other banks.

    “The instruction, dated 16th of June 2014 was given to me where six beneficiaries were to be paid.

    “The names of the beneficiaries were Santuraki Bello (N200m); Yusuf Bulama (N120m); Chimenum Njoku (N250m); Josiah Moses (N280m); Abubakar Sadiq Zanna (N200m); and Franklin Tolani (N150m).

    “The above-named beneficiaries were not available to be paid as I did not see them. I was further directed by Mr. Premier Oiwoh to move the money to the airport where I will be given further instruction on who to pay.

    “The cash was moved to the airport through the Cash-In-Transit vendor, Benters Warehouse Limited (BWL). I contacted the vendor, who made the bullion vehicle available for the movement.

    “I personally supervised the loading of the money into the bullion van and escorted the money to the airport. I was in my vehicle while the bullion van was also escorted by the police.

    “As at the time I left the banking premises, I did not sight the beneficiaries.”

    Otuyalo confirmed an earlier report by The Nation that they were disallowed access to the security gate at the reserved wing at the airport.

    He, however, said Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of the ex-Minister, cleared them at the airport gate.

    The banker added:”When we got to the gate, we were not allowed in as we did not have any pass. However, Gbolahan Obanikoro came, he cleared us and we moved in.

    “I identified Gbolahan Obanikoro while my boss, Premier Oiwoh, called me on the phone that Gbolahan was around. He spoke to Gbolahan through my phone and the phone was also handed back to me where it was confirmed that that was the beneficiary to pay the money to.

    “Besides this, politicians are really not hidden from the public. So, I was also able to recognise him apart from my boss’s confirmation.

    “When we eventually gained entrance into the private wing, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro came in with two armed policemen and a few friends and cash was offloaded into the first aircraft which flew him out of the airport.

    “The aircraft later came back and the second batch of money was also offloaded into the aircraft from the bullion van.

    “As the second aircraft could not also contain the remaining amount due to the size of the aircraft and weight it can carry.

    “I recall that another aircraft was also used to move the final batch of the money from the bullion van.

    “The second and third movements were supervised by Gbolahan Obanikoro as his father had left with the first aircraft.

    “I got back to my boss, Premier Oiwoh, that the assignment was concluded and he said okay.”

     

  • EFCC grills pilot who flew N1.299b cash for Fayose, Obanikoro

    EFCC grills pilot who flew N1.299b cash for Fayose, Obanikoro

    A pilot has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) how he flew a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, with N1.299 billion cash for Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

    Capt. Ahmed Bashir Borodo said the cash was wrapped with green military tarpaulin bags before it was loaded onto the chartered aircraft registered HS125-800 5N-BMT, owned by  Gyro Air Limited.

    He said the bags were so heavy that only three people could carry one at a time.

    Also, the General Manager of Gyro Air Limited, Mr. Jide West, has disclosed that about $25, 200 was paid for the two chartered flights from Lagos to Akure and Akure to Abuja.

    EFCC detectives grilled Borodo and West  at the weekend, The Nation learnt.

    The session was part of the ongoing probe of Fayose for allegedly receiving the N1.299billion slush funds from Obanikoro through his associate, Abiodun Agbele.

    About N4.745billion was paid into Obanikoro’s company Sylva Mcnamara’s office by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the 2014 Ekiti governorship.

    The slush funds had been  traced by EFCC  to Obanikoro,  Fayose, three firms  and a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

    Borodo said he only flew the plane in line with the directive of his airline’s management.

    He said: “On the 17th June 2014, I was advised around 0700 hours by my Flight Operations Department that we would be operating a chartered flight to Akure from Lagos with estimated departure time of 0830 hours.

    “The client was Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State for Defence at that time.

    “I arrived at the airport at about 0730 hours to prepare for the flight along with my colleague, Captain Olubiyi Famuyiwa and cabin attendant Uyi Okoro. Minutes later, the minister’s aides came to the aircraft with some bullion vans. They started offloading the contents, which were big green tarpaulin bags. Military bags precisely.

    “The ADC to the minister was dressed in Navy uniform. This is all I can state now.”

    The pilot recalled that the bags were so heavy that three people carried one. He said: “When we noticed that only about three people could carry the bags because of the weight, we told them that because of the weight, we could only take  about eight to nine bags.

    “The minister who had disembarked  at that time from his vehicle pleaded with us but we said our aircraft was too small to carry all the bags. We loaded the bags. The minister, his ADC and a friend boarded the aircraft and we departed to Akure , Ondo State.

    “ When we arrived at Akure Airport, some soldiers came and there was a bullion van as well to carry the baggage. We departed empty to Lagos on the 17/06/14. On the 18th of June 2014, we were sent from Abuja to Akure to pick Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro and take him to Abuja. He boarded without any luggage with his ADC and we proceeded to Abuja to drop him.”

    West gave an insight into how the chartered flight service was procured at $25,200.

    He said: “On the 15/16 of June 2014, Lt. Adewale O Eruka called me for a flight to Akure scheduled for 17th and 18th of June 2014 on the instruction of Musiliu Obanikoro. I contacted operation  and the flight was carried out as detailed below: 17/6/14 – Lagos – Akure – Lagos

    “I was informed that they carried the bags to Akure with some passengers as indicated in the manifest.

    “On 18/6/14 , the flight was  Abuja – Akure – Abuja to  pick up the passengers from Akure back to Abuja. The aircraft was empty from Abuja but brought the passengers back to Abuja. Passengers as indicated in the manifest.

    “The flights were paid for; $25,200 was paid for both flights and this was arranged by Lt. Adewale. The crew on the flight on both occasions were: Capt. ‘Biyi Famuyiwa whose service has been terminated by Gyro Air Ltd; Ahmed Borodo the second pilot who accompanied me to EFCC today; and  Uyi Okoro the cabin crew who resigned her appointment from Gyro for further studies abroad. Resignation and termination letters attached.

    ”I also have a text on my phone dated 19/6/14 from Lt. Adewale detailing how payment will be made for the chartered service.”

    As at press time, there were indications that some officials of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigeria Air Management Agency (NAMA) may appear before the EFCC, which is intensifying its probe of Fayose.

    “We are likely to invite more people for interrogation,” a source said.

    The EFCC at the weekend sealed off six choice duplexes belonging to Fayose, a development which has caused disquiet in the camp of the governor.

    The duplexes, worth N1.350billion, include four in Lagos and two in Abuja which were bought through his associate, Abiodun Agbele and Fayose’s sister. Mrs. Moji Ladeji.

    Fayose’s sister has, however, gone to the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti to file claims that one of the Abuja duplexes legally belong to her.

    According to sources, preliminary investigation by the EFCC indicated that the houses were bought with slush funds, including the alleged diversion of the N1.219billion smuggled to Fayose by Obanikoro and kickback cash from contractors

    Operatives of the anti-graft commission have marked the duplexes. They are: 44, Osun Crescent and 32, Yedseram Street in Maitama, Abuja as well as houses 3, 4, 6, and 9 in Plot 100, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    It was gathered that the EFCC had traced how the funds were wired to pay for the duplexes.

    According to a document, while the duplex in Osun Crescent was allegedly bought for N200million from Skye Bank Plc, the one located in Yedseram Street in Abuja was purchased at N270million from a businessman, Rabi Kundili.

    All the houses in Lagos were paid for by Agbele, the detained associate of the governor who is also under investigation.

  • Obanikoro to EFCC: stop harassing my wife

    Obanikoro to EFCC: stop harassing my wife

    Former Minister of State for Defence,Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resist the temptation of   ‘persecuting’ his wife, Moroophat,who was quizzed by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

    He called her “an innocent woman who has no dealings at all with any of the businesses that they are investigating and totally unaware of the alleged transactions.”

    The self-exiled politician, who was reacting to media reports on his wife’s encounter with the EFCC, said she suffers from high blood pressure and other heart ailments.

    He deplored the media reports which he branded as saddening.

    He said: “We are saddened by the fact that the media was awash with false and conflicting information about the invitation of Senator Obanikoro’s wife.

    “Ordinarily, we considered ignoring these concocted lies, but for the sake of discerning and right thinking public, hence the need to straighten matters.

    “First, Alhaja Moroophat has always been in the country, managing her businesses as against the lie that she sneaked in last week from the United States.

    “Second, no documents were found in her possession and the lie that she was arrested, while trying to evacuate documents is a fabrication and can only survive in their warped and distorted minds. It should also be noted that the officials only came to invite her for questioning and as against the phrase that she was whisked away, her driver actually drove her in her own car to the office of the DSS.

    “Third, it was shamefully reported that the DSS were involved because there were so many armed policemen guiding her. This is another fabricated lie. Even when he was serving as minister, his family never enjoyed any police protection let alone after leaving office and as a woman who is above board in all her dealings, she does not need one.

    “Finally, we are using this medium to call on the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to resist from persecuting an innocent woman who has no dealings at all with any of the businesses that they are investigating and totally unaware of the alleged transactions.

    “For emphasis, the innocent woman has a history of high blood pressure and heart related ailments and as such should not be dragged into their biased and politicised investigations.

    “We have absolute confidence in the judiciary and we hope to get justice in the course with the proviso that they obey the rule of law and avoid arbitrariness that we are seeing on daily basis.”

    Obanikoro and his two sons are wanted by the EFCC in connection with cash disbursement by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

  • Obanikoro to EFCC: Stop harassing my wife

    Obanikoro to EFCC: Stop harassing my wife

    The Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, on Friday told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to resist the temptation of   “persecuting” his wife, Moroophat, who was quizzed by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

    He called her “an innocent woman who has no dealings at all with any of the businesses that they are investigating and totally unaware of the alleged transactions.”

    The self-exiled politician, who was reacting to media reports on his wife’s encounter with EFCC, said she suffers from high blood pressure and other heart ailments.

    The ex-minister in a statement on Friday deplored the media reports which he branded as saddening.

    He said: “We are saddened by the fact that the media was awash with false and conflicting information about the invitation of Senator Obanikoro’s wife.

    “Ordinarily, we considered ignoring these concocted lies but for the sake of discerning and right thinking public, hence the need to straighten matters.

    “First, Alhaja Moroophat has always been in the country managing her businesses as against the lie that she sneaked in last week from the United States.

    “Second, No documents were found in her possession and the lie that she was arrested while trying to evacuate documents is a fabrication and can only survive in their warped and distorted minds. It should also be noted that the officials only came to invite her for questioning and as against the phrase that she was whisked away. Her driver actually drove her in her own car to the office of the DSS.

    “Third, it was shamefully reported that the DSS were involved because there were so many armed policemen guiding her. This is another fabricated lie. Even when he was serving as minister, his family never enjoyed any police protection let alone after leaving office and as a woman who is above board in all her dealings, she does not need one.

    “Finally, we are using this medium to call on the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to resist from persecuting an innocent woman who has no dealings at all with any of the businesses that they are investigating and totally unaware of the alleged transactions.”

     

  • Video shows how Obanikoro loaded plane with N1.29b for Fayose

    Video shows how Obanikoro loaded plane with N1.29b for Fayose

    • Ex-minister ordered soldiers to break airport security gate
    for bullion van
    •$25,000 paid for the two flights to Akure
    •Money withdrawn from bank but no records of transaction

    Fresh insights into how a former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly loaded a chartered aircraft with N1, 299, 490b for transfer to Governor Ayodele Fayose through an associate, Abiodun Agbele has been revealed.

    The cash was transferred through HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.

    The first flight was filled with N724.5million cash to the extent that there was no seat for any crew member or the ex-Minister.

    It was during the second flight with N494.990m that Obanikoro, his Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale, and crew member joined the trip to Akure Airport.

    Records indicated yesterday that for each of the trip, Obanikoro paid $12,500 making a total of $25,000.

    The EFCC has retrieved the footage details of Obanikoro’s movement at the airport and the flight schedule of the aircraft.

    According to fresh evidence obtained by the EFCC, the ex-Minister had defied security gate at the airport in Lagos to move a bullion van to the apron of the chartered wing to off-load the cash.

    Although the security men at the airport resisted the use of the security gate, the ex-Minister ordered soldiers to break all barriers for the bullion van to get to the apron.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Contrary to his attacks on EFCC, we have retrieved the footage and details of how he ordered soldiers to break the barriers at the reserved security gate at Lagos Airport for a bullion van to go to the apron of the chartered service wing.

    “He defied security men at the airport and refused to subject the bullion van to any screening contrary to aviation rules. In fact, apart from financial crimes, the ex-Minister and his accomplices have outstanding allegations against them for violating aviation safety rules or regulations.

    “The aircraft made two shuttles to Akure Airport on June 17, 2014. Our investigation revealed that during the first flight, about N724.5million was offloaded from the bullion into the aircraft. The cash occupied all the space to the extent that there was nowhere to sit by the crew and the ex-Minister.

    “But when the balance of N494.990m was loaded into the aircraft for the second trip, Obanikoro, his ADC, one highly-placed person from the South-West, and the crew were able to make the trip.

    “Let him continue to make noise in the United States instead of coming home to clear his name. We have interacted with the aviation staff on ground on the said date.  We have identified the owner of the aircraft to be a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.”

    Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the ex-Minister paid $25,000 for the two flights to Akure at $12,500 each.

    Another source confirmed that the aircraft belonged a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.

    “We have evidence of the payment of $25,000 to Gyro Air Limited for the two flights to Akure. And Zenith Bank confirmed how Fayose’s associate, Agbele, brought the cash into its branch in Akure to keep as sundry funds.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “From our findings, the Minister and Fayose fought over N80million missing from the total cash.

    “They had a shouting match until reasons prevailed between the two politicians on the whereabouts of the N80million.”

    An Investigating Officer of the EFCC, Tosin Owobo during the week opened up at the  Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti on how the N1, 299,490,000.00 was wired into Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accounts by one of his associates, Abiodun Agbele.

    Owobo, who swore to an affidavit, said: “That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”

    “That on the 17th day of June, 2014, Mr. Alade Oluseye in the company of one Abiodun Agbele a front of the Applicant (Fayose), went to the Akure Airport wherein they took cash delivery of the sum of N724,500,000.00 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his acclaimed Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale.

    “That on the 18th day of June, 2014, another sum of N494, 990,000 was also delivered to Mr. Alade Oluseye by the said Minister in the same manner.

    “ That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”

  • How Fayose, Obanikoro clashed over arms cash, by Aluko

    How Fayose, Obanikoro clashed over arms cash, by Aluko

    EKITI State Governor Ayo Fayose and ex-Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro clashed over the huge cash deployed in the June 21, 2014, governorship poll, it was learnt yesterday.

    Former Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary Dr. Temitope Aluko said this during a live interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM.

    Aluko, who claimed Fayose did not have up to N10 million in his personal account before the 2014 elections, alleged that his primary election was sponsored by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    The Ekiti poll fraud whistleblower said it was after Fayose won the Ekiti PDP primary that cash from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and oil contractors was used to fund the campaign for the election.

    Aluko explained during the interview that Fayose bought five houses with N2.3 billion, the remaining of the slush funds from ONSA, in Abuja, and on Banana Island and Victoria Island in Lagos.

    Speaking on the feud between Fayose and Obanikoro on the arms cash, Aluko said the two clashed when it was discovered that part of the funds brought to Akure for the Ekiti poll was short by N80 million.

    He said: “The Presidency gave us security and money; the money was sent from a Diamond Bank branch through an account run by Sylvan MacNamara, a company owned by Obanikoro.

    “My boss (Fayose) said he wanted to get his own in cash and that was why arrangement was made to get his own in cash and that was why such a huge amount (N2.1 billion) was ferried by plane. Obanikoro cannot claim not to have brought the money.

    “He (Fayose) chose his man, Abiodun Agbele, to keep the money in a bank account. The transaction was not recorded and it got to a stage when it was discovered that the money was short by N80 million.

    “This caused a crisis between Fayose and Obanikoro, who brought money three times from Abuja. He (Obanikoro) brought other things apart from money, which I won’t disclose now. It was from it that N1 billion was released to INEC officials to manipulate Ekiti and Osun polls.

    “Fayose was telling (former President Goodluck) Jonathan that he (Fayose) must deliver so that Jonathan will win in Southwest. The PDP elders were kept out of the picture about the transactions and cash and some of the cash deployed did not get to their destination.

    “The cash carried in the plane was not entered into the manifest, the N2.1 billion was delivered to a bank at 4.30 am in Ekiti. The N2.3 billion remaining from the cash received for the election was used to buy house in Abuja and the house belongs to Fayose.

    “Fayose bought five houses on Victoria Island and Banana Island. The property in Dubai was purchased by a fellow, who is known as Bisi in Ekiti but known as Femi abroad. Questions are being asked on the N3 billion used to buy the Dubai property, but I believe that we will recover our money.

    “No big money flowed into Fayose’s campaign until June, 2014. Money collected were either paid into the account of Spotless Investment or Fayose’s personal account.”

    On failure of the governor to pay civil servants, Aluko alleged that Fayose earns 40 per cent of the monthly allocation as entitlement.

    He said Fayose receives N250 million as security vote every month. This was increased from N150 million received by his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, apart from allowances received from the Government House and Protocol.

    The PDP stalwart doubts Fayose’s claim that the state generates N300 million monthly compared to N600 million monthly generated during the Fayemi administration.

    He said the fact that Fayose imposed many taxes on Ekiti people should shore up the revenue base.

    “IGR ought to be more than that. Fayose is now collecting money by from okada riders, banana sellers, shop owners and other petty traders. If you impose taxes not imposed by your predecessor, the IGR should rise.

    “I want the authorities to beam their searchlight on the IGR accounts run by Ekiti State government because Ekiti people are asking questions.

    “Fayose should shed from the hefty allowances he raised for himself to pay other people that are suffering  because this is someone who is making noise when his account was closed, what about other people being owed salaries for the last six months?

    “It is insulting for a governor to be saying he cannot sell his wife and children to pay salaries. It is absurd for somebody to have billions in his account and property all over to be telling the people to endure pains.

    “TSA is not in operation, state accounts not published, salary structure unknown, IGR unknown, what is spent on recurrent and capital expenditure unknown and the consultant is the same person operating as contractor,” Aluko said.

     

     

     

  • Fayose, Obanikoro clashed over arms cash – Aluko

    Fayose, Obanikoro clashed over arms cash – Aluko

    A former  Secretary of the Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr. Temitope Aluko, on Tuesday said Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and the former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro, clashed  over the huge cash deployed for the June 21, 2014 governorship poll in the state.

    Aluko, who disclosed this during a live interview programme on ADABA 88.9 FM monitored by our correspondent, said Zenith Bank did not sponsor the governor’s election campaign.

    He explained that Zenith Bank only gave Fayose N200 million after he had won the governorship election.

    Aluko, who claimed that Fayose did not have up to N10 million in his personal account before contesting the governorship election in 2014, added that the governor’s primary election was sponsored by Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    He claimed that it was after Fayose had won the primary election that cash from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and oil contractors was deployed to fund the election campaign.

    He said Zenith Bank and other corporate organizations came with business proposals after Fayose had won the election, insisting that the governor’s claim that his campaign was sponsored by Zenith Bank was a “blatant lie.”

    Aluko said during the interview that Fayose purchased five houses with the N2.3 billion, which was a remainder of the slush funds from ONSA in choice locations in Abuja, Banana Island and Victoria Island in Lagos.

    Speaking on the feud between Fayose and Obanikoro on the arms cash, Aluko stated that a crisis of confidence broke out between the duo following discovery that there was a shortfall of N80 million in the money ferried by plane to Akure for the governorship election.

    He said: “The Presidency gave us security and money, the money was sent from a Diamond Bank branch through an account run by Sylvan MacNamara, a company owned by Obanikoro.

    “My boss (Fayose) said he wanted to get his own in cash and that was why arrangement was made to get his own in cash and that was why such a huge amount (N2.1 billion) was ferried by plane. Obanikoro cannot claim not to have brought the money.

    “He (Fayose) chose his man, Abiodun Agbele, to keep the money in a Zenith Bank account and the money was lodged at Zenith Bank, Alagbaka Branch in Akure. The transaction was not recorded and it got to a stage when it was discovered that the money was short by N80 million.

    “This caused a crisis between Fayose and Obanikoro who brought money thrice from Abuja. He (Obanikoro) brought other things apart from money which I won’t disclose now and it was from it that N1 billion was released to INEC officials to manipulate Ekiti and Osun polls.

    “Fayose was threatening former President Goodluck Jonathan that he (Fayose) must deliver so that Jonathan will win in Southwest. All the PDP elders were kept out of picture on the transactions and cash and some of the cash deployed did not get to their destinations.

    “The cash carried on the plane was not entered into the plane manifest, the N2.1 billion was delivered to a bank at 4:30am in Ekiti. The N2.3 billion remaining from the total cash received for the election was used to buy house in Abuja and the house belongs to Fayose.

    “Fayose purchased five houses in Victoria Island and Banana Island. The property in Dubai was purchased by a fellow who is known as Bisi in Ekiti but is known as Femi abroad. Questions are being asked on the N3 billion used to purchase the Dubai property but I strongly believe that we will recover our money.”