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Tag: Senator Musiliu Obanikoro

  • Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, First Lady celebrate Obanikoro at 65

    Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, First Lady celebrate Obanikoro at 65

    President lauds ex-minister’s role in Lagos, national politics

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, have extended warm felicitations to prominent Lagos politician and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on yesterday’s celebration of his 65th birthday.

    The President praised the Lagos politician for his steadfast service to the state and Nigeria.

    In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Senator Obanikoro as an influential leader within the Lagos political landscape and a dependable stakeholder in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     “Senator Obanikoro’s significant contributions to Lagos State, particularly during his tenure as the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government and as Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture under my administration as governor, remain worthy of commendation,” the President said.

    President Tinubu noted that Obanikoro’s service extended beyond state-level responsibilities, recalling his impactful roles as a Senator representing Lagos Central from 2003 to 2007 and later as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana.

    Currently an apex leader in the Lagos APC and a member of the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Obanikoro, fondly called “Koro,” was celebrated by the President for his “commitment to Lagos development and his pivotal role within the state APC”.

    He urged the celebrant to continue dedicating his experience and influence to the unity and progress of Nigeria, praying for his long life, renewed strength, and more fruitful years in service.

    Senator Obanikoro remains one of the most recognisable figures in Lagos politics, with a career spanning local government administration, national legislature, diplomacy, and executive appointments.

    Read Also: Nigeria, others rally for united global action on food security at UN Summit

    In a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile. Governor Sanwo-Olu praised Obanikoro for his contributions to Lagos State’s development and his selfless service across all levels of government.

    “On behalf of my wife, Ibijoke, the people and government of Lagos State, and the APC and GAC members, I congratulate Senator Obanikoro,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu described Obanikoro as one of Nigeria’s most decorated politicians, having served diligently as chairman, commissioner, senator, minister, and high commissioner. 

    According to the governor, Obanikoro was a good ambassador of Lagos as the senator representing Lagos Central in the Fifth Senate.

    As a lawmaker, he contributed significantly to legislative work in the National Assembly.

    The governor prayed for Obanikoro’s continued good health and strength to render more service to Lagos State, Nigeria, and humanity.

    In her congratulatory message to Obanikoro through her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs. Tinubu said: “I celebrate with you, your well-wishers, associates and family members on your 65th birthday.

    “As senator, minister, and diplomat, you have contributed meaningfully to national development.

    “I pray you celebrate many more years in Divine health, joy and peace. Happy birthday, your excellency!”

  • Fayose: Court admits Obanikoro’s dead aide’s statement in evidence

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday admitted in evidence a statement made by the late Justin Erukaa, a former Personal Assistant of ex-Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun held that the statement was admissible in law.

    Obanikoro was testifying for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial of former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Counsel for Spotless Limited, Fayose’s co-accused, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had during proceedings on February 7 urged the judge to admit the statement in evidence.

    He said the statement was relevant to the case because Erukaa made it in the course of EFCC’s investigation.

    “In law, the first litmus test of admissibility is relevance. Obanikoro said in his testimony that he sent Erukaa on errands, including to collect over $1million and that he came to meet him in Ekiti.

    “In law, a statement made to the EFCC in the course of investigation is admissible in evidence without the maker being called as witness or being a party to proceedings.

    “It is not the law that a document which is not tendered through the maker is not admissible,” the SAN said, relying on sections 39 and 83 of the Evidence Act.

    But, prosecuting Counsel Rotimi Jacobs opposed Ojo’s bid to tender the statement, arguing that it was not admission in law.

    He said the sections relied on by Ojo were not application in the circumstances.

    But the judge overruled Jacobs yesterday, holding that Sections 39 and 49 of the Evidence Act make such a document admissible.

    She said the issue was what weight the court would attach to the statement, which was the court’s to determine.

    Fayose is on trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million allegedly stolen from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) contrary to the Money Laundering Act.

    He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge last October 22.

    Under cross-examination yesterday, Obanikoro reiterated that three were no records of the money sent from ONSA.

    “We’re dealing with security issues. It can be called anything just to protect the transactions. They can be characterised as anything,” he said.

    He said there was no contract awarded before the fund was transferred, adding that he supervised Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd’s account from which the fund was disbursed.

    He said funds paid into the account were for the security of Lagos, and for election purposes in Ekiti and Osun states.

    “I only took supervisory responsibility of the account during the transactions for Lagos, Ekiti and Osun.

    “No contract was signed. Matters of election can be matters of security. Political matters can also be security-related,” Obanikoro said.

    Asked if he would be surprised that the ONSA denied paying N2.2billion to Sylvan Mcnamara’s account Obanikoro said: “I won’t be surprised.”

    EFCC said Fayose and Biodun Agbele, who is facing a different charge, allegedly took possession of N1, 219,000,000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

    The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.”

    EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution, the sum having exceeded the amount authorised by law.

    Fayose pleaded not guilty.

    Trial continues today.

  • Obanikoro: No record of cash collected from Dasuki for Fayose

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Monday heard that there is no record of the N1.2billion and $5million which former Minister of State for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, allegedly delivered to former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Testifying in Fayose’s trial for money laundering before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, Obanikoro, the fifth prosecution witness, said he did not sign for the money he received from former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    “I did not sign any records at the Office of the National Security Adviser for the monies that I collected,” he said.

    Obanikoro was cross-examined by defence counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN) (for Fayose) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) (for Fayose’s company and co-accused Spotless Limited).

    The former minister agreed that he was also under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that he was eventually made to return N200million out of the money he received from Dasuki.

    “I was investigated over funds disbursed through the ONSA. I was kept in EFCC custody for 21 days. I reluctantly returned the N200million cash. Some money was seized from an account related to me,” Obanikoro said.

    The witness explained how he came about using the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited to receive money from ONSA.

    He said Dasuki’s successor wrote a petition against him and the company alleging that they collected funds for which no contract was executed.

    “It was the NSA (Dasuki) that requested me to furnish the account. The request to furnish the account was made orally,” he said.

    Obanikoro said Dasuki told him that the account was for the purpose of transferring funds meant for the security of Lagos.

    “The account was for securing Lagos. I sourced the account from Taiwo Kareem. It remained his property. We came about the company (Sylvan Mcnamara) because they made a presentation to the ONSA and was found to have the capacity for securing Lagos,” he said.

    Asked if Sylvan Mcnamara was a security company, Obanikoro said he would not know until he saw the firm’s articles of incorporation.

    Read Also: Obanikoro: it’s painful testifying against Fayose

    “That’s the purpose it was used for (securing Lagos). The decision to qualify Sylvan Mcnamara was that of the NSA. I introduced the company to NSA and the approval was given,” he said.

    Asked what the NSA had in mind when he asked him to source for the account, he said: “The NSA wanted to protect Lagos. I deserve a medal of honour for the protection of Lagos which we did successfully.”

    On why the account appeared to be shrouded in secrecy, Obanikoro said: “Clandestine security operations don’t work the way an average person wants it to work.”

    Obanikoro admitted that some funds were transferred from the account to Rehoboth Homes, such as N74million on May 31, 2014.

    He explained that Rehoboth Homes “must have been one of the vehicles to get the dollar content to Fayose”.

    Other sums, such as N5million, were also transferred to unknown persons from the account on at least three different times.

    Agabi said: “The reason they hide the identities of the recipients is because their job is evil.”

    Obanikoro responded: “I am not an evil doer sir. When a job is for society’s good, it cannot be characterised as evil. You do not keep records for some of these transactions.”

  • Obanikoro, family sue EFCC for N100m 

    Obanikoro, family sue EFCC for N100m 

    Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his family have sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court in Lagos over the seizure and detention of their property.

    They are seeking a declaration that the forceful seizure of their personal effects constitutes a gross violation of their rights.

    The applicants are praying for an order setting aside the forceful detention of their properties last June 14.

    They demanded an “unreserved public apology”, as well as N100 million as general damages from EFCC.

    The Obanikoros also sought an order restraining EFCC from arresting, detaining or harassing them or entering their premises again to seize their properties.

    The applicants include Obanikoro’s wife Moroophat, his sons Gbolahon, Babajide and wife Fati.

    EFCC claimed Obanikoro received suspicious payments from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through companies linked to the family.

    For instance, the commission said $1,018,000 was transferred from the ONSA to Mob Integrated Services on March 18, 2015.

    But, the family, though their lawyer Lawal Pedro (SAN), said the documents and properties EFCC seized “have nothing to do with the ONSA.”

    They claimed that the commission violated Regulation 13 of the EFCC (Enforcement Regulation) 2010 which provides that it shall apply and obtain a court order to enter and search any premises.

    However, EFCC has urged the court to dismiss the suit, insisting that it acted within the law.

    Justice Abdulazeez Anka adjourned until March 28 for ruling.

  • S/West economy: Obanikoro, Bankole, others meet in Ibadan

    S/West economy: Obanikoro, Bankole, others meet in Ibadan

    The Former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Dimeji Bankole, former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, were among other ‎political bigwigs from various political parties in SouthWest, on Monday met in Ibadan, Oyo State capital to discuss agenda for the economic and industrialised emancipation of the region.

    The politicians who held a meeting under a group called Yoruba Patriots’ Movement, YPM, allso included, former Minister of State, Defence, Prince Kayode Adetokunbo, former Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Fatai Oyebade, former Chief of Staff to former Governor of Oyo State, Dr Saka Balogun, Professor Adesoji Adesugba and Dr Kunle Olajide.

    Others are Dr Doyin Okupe, Elder Wole Oyelese, Chief (Mrs) Funmilayo Jabaru, Professor Soji Adejumo, Prince Dotun Oyelade among others.

    Speaking to journalists, the National coordinator of the Movement, Hon Oladosu Oladipupo the meeting was not for 2019 general election but to liberate the region from its current economic hardship.

    He said, “YPM was floated to mark out agenda for the region’s economic emancipation which majorly dwell mostly on agriculture and industrialisation”.

    Oladipupo said impunity of Fulani is one of the reasons for the decision to liberate Yoruba from the bad influence of the people from the Northern Nigeria saying the idea is to be modelled after the economic principles of Obafemi Awolowo during his rule in Western regional government.

    He said the group will have another meeting where they will come up with agenda that revisit the utility function of the region’s natural resources to generate wealth.

    He added that the agenda will also seek to educate the present generation to be value oriented to make use of the orientation of the past to make the Yoruba nation thrive economically again.

  • Bode George needs social rehabilitation, says Obanikoro

    Bode George needs social rehabilitation, says Obanikoro

    Immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday fired back at the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, asking  him to seek rehabilitation  for  post-traumatic stress arising from his stint in jail.

    The former minister was responding to George’s broadside that he (Obanikoro)  was a lunatic for accusing him (George) of manipulating the recent governorship primaries of the PDP in Lagos.

    Mr. Jimi Agbaje, favoured by George, was declared winner of the primaries.

    Obanikoro said, “Indeed, there is nothing unexpected about the recent tantrums by Chief Bode George targeted at me in spite of the ignoble role he played in the fraudulent outcome of the Lagos PDP gubernatorial primaries. For whatever it is worth, it is to Chief Bode George’s credit that his family name is tainted and now constitutes a generational blemish as Nigeria’s leading metaphor for gross moral deficit, lack of integrity and public dishonour,” This is in apparent reference to the imprisonment of George by a Lagos State High Court for corruption during his tenure as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). However, the Supreme Court has since quashed the sentence and declared him blameless.

    Continuing his tirade Obanikoro said: “As Chief Bode George embarks on his feeble attempts at painting a picture of me that exists only in his perverted imagination, let someone remind him that the post-traumatic stress disorder that comes with a time in jail would take more than just an unholy alliance with a pharmacist to heal.

    ” It is instructive to state here that not only that I am properly raised in the best of Yoruba tradition, I owe a large part of my successful public service career to a childhood and education built on godly principles and sound moral values.

    “In all my life and public service career, I have never been accused, arrested or convicted for fraud whether at home in Nigeria or abroad and I have been happily and responsibly married for 34 years.

    George had, in his own statement, dismissed Obanikoro’s allegation that he manipulated the PDP primaries as alarmist provocations and described the former minister as “a desperate and obsessed man who is apparently incapable of absorbing the reality of his defeat by a well-bred and better man.”

    He added: “For Obanikoro to claim in sheer ludicrousness that I, even remotely, identify with any intimations of violence is utter lunacy and blind, vindictive madness. Surely, Obanikoro is possessed and obsessed. He needs immediate psychiatric treatment. He is a desperate sinking man, grasping and thrashing in self inflicted chasm.

    “What is the pedigree of this young man who has abandoned the typical African deference to elders? We know who sprung from violence and banditry. We know whose antecedents reek in noisome, vagrant, untidy ruffianism.

    “Politics is not a do or die affair. No civilised person with impeccable pedigree will seek a tacky refuge in destruction and ruin simply because he has lost in a free and fair contest. Obanikoro should go quietly into that good night if he means well for Lagos.

    “Enough of his desperate tantrums and lunacy. Lagos has moved on, far beyond the primitive wretchedness of little, ill-bred hooligans.”

  • PDP primaries: Court fails to restrain Obanikoro

    PDP primaries: Court fails to restrain Obanikoro

    A Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, declined yesterday to restrain a governorship aspirant of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, from participating in the December 8 governorship primaries.

    Ruling in an exparte motion application  by Michael Ogun, Suleiman Saheed and Wasiu Odusan through their counsel, Wahab Shittu, Justice Kazeem Alogba refused to grant the prayers.

    Joined in the suit are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The appellants had sought an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain Obanikoro from participating in the primaries.

    They also sought an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the PDP from nominating the aspirant  for the 2015 governorship election or any subsequent elections in Nigeria, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

    Shittu told the court that the exparte motion was a politically sensitive matter and that there was an urgent need for him to move the motion yesterday.

    The lawyer said they had attached five exhibits to the originating summons- PDP constitution, a damning publication on the defendant, details of the defendant’s American international passport showing details of his acquired American citizenship and another international passport showing his alleged falsification of age contained in a sworn affidavit.

    But Justice Alogba said the applicants failed to prove the urgency of the action to warrant the granting of the order.

    The judge said considering the gravity of the allegations  against Obanikoro, it would only be fair to grant him fair hearing before making any such order.

    Justice Alogba said he did not share the belief that the interest of the applicants would be jeopardised if the court did not restrain Obanikoro from participating in the primary.

    He, therefore, asked the applicants to serve the respondents with the relevant processes, including the option of substituted service and adjourned till December 9.

  • Obanikoro condemns murder

    Obanikoro condemns murder

    Former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has condemned the murder of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Sikiru Ogboye, by suspected thugs in Lagos.

    Ogboye, a PDP “electoral agent” was killed while monitoring the distribution of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).

    In a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media Strategy Ohimai Amaize, the PDP governorship aspirant described the murder of as callous and barbaric.

    “The PDP, as a peace-loving party, believes in the police’s ability to protect Nigerians. This reckless act of savagery by hoodlums must be swiftly contained by our law enforcement agencies.