Obanikoro Confesses: Admits To Diverting N2.3bn To Fayose

Concise News correspondents

Concise News can authoritatively inform you that Musiliu Obanikoro has finally owned up to giving N2.3bn to Ayodele Fayose. He said the transaction took place on the instruction of former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), in the run up to the Ekiti gubernatorial polls in 2014.

In a secret revelation by a top EFCC official under anonymity to Punch and obtained by Concise News, the former Minister of State for Defense said he personally gave N5, 357, 357 to Fayose.

The source from EFCC claimed that the accused has admitted to transferring N2.3bn to Macnamara for onward transfer to Ayodele Fayose. Former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, instructed and approved the transactions, according to the accused.

On one occasion, the former Minister of State for Defense said he converted N60m to dollars at the rate of N168 and also transferred same to Fayose.

On another occasion, the sum of N1.3bn was brought to Fayose in a Diamond Bank bullion van. Obanikoro claimed that one Mr. Biodun Agbele, one of Fayose’s associates, received the money. The former Minister of State for Defense claims that his ADC, Lt. Adewale was a witness of the handing over, as well as some bank officials.

The former defense chief confessed that he moved the N1.3bn from Lagos to Akure by flight.

Obanikoro sings a different tune

Obanikoro’s recent confession is a surprising departure from his earlier claim of innocence. As recent as June, the embattled former minister claimed that he, along with other key officials in GEJ’s administration, were targeted for witch-hunting by the PMB’s administration.

Pursuing Obanikoro, hounding Madueke, detaining FFK and Dasuki will not distract from the failure of Govt to deliver on ITS OWN PROMISES.

— Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

Ownership of Mcnamara

The antigraft agency had also accused Lagos-born politician of owning Mcnamara, the company in whose account the Office of National Security Adviser deposited N4.685bn between April and November 2014. The EFCC accused him of running Macnamara by proxy.

The anti-graft agency claims that two of Obanikoro’s sons, Babajide as well as Gbolahan are directors of the company. The accused, however, denies ownership of the company.

Obanikoro made a surprise return to Nigeria on Monday. He reported himself at EFFC office to face interrogation on allegations of corruption and also receipt of funds from the arms deal. Information reaching us has it that Obanikoro is still under EFCC detention.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti state governor, in a swift response issued and signed by his Special Adviser on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, has said that he will not be distracted by ex-minister Musiliu Obanikoro’s recent confessions. He also described the voluntary return of Obanikoro as “dramatic and compromised.”