Embattled former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro,
has reportedly refunded N100.4 million out of the N785 million a
company, Sylvan McNamara limited linked to him, received from the former
National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The Nation reports that
Obanikoro who has been in EFCC custody since October 19th, may be
released after the N100.4 million he refunded has been confirmed by the
antigraft agency.
An
EFCC operative who spoke on condition of anonymity said “After many
days of foot-dragging, the ex-Minister has paid back N100.4million out
of about N785million allegedly collected from the Office of National
Security Adviser (ONSA) by Sylvan McNamara Limited, a company which was
allegedly linked to him. I
think we may grant him bail to give him time to look for the balance of
the cash. We are trying to verify the government account he paid into
and we want to confirm the payment. We may release him any moment from
now after the confirmation. This,
however, does not mean that we are dropping any charges against him.
Our objective is first of all to recover the illegal funds. The decision
on his trial will depend on the review of his case and the extent to
which he is liable. You
know the ex-Minister has admitted flying over N1.299billion to Akure in
two shuttles for Governor Ayodele Fayose. The cash was collected by
Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele, who is currently on trial. Obanikoro
also confessed that he personally gave $5.377m (N60m then) cash to
Fayose. He admitted on oath that he was used to siphon public funds
meant for arms purchase. These are all criminal offences which are
punishable by the nation’s laws. The testimonies of Obanikoro will hasten his trial and ongoing prosecution of all the suspects implicated in the arms cash.”
Obanikoro in his statement to the EFCC, had alleged that N3.880 billion out of
the N4.75 billion he collected from Dasuki, was handed to Ekiti state
governor, Ayo Fayose, to rig the state governorship election in June
2014 in favor of PDP. Obanikoro also alleged that he
handed over $5.377m (N60m then) cash to Fayose at Spotless Hotel,
Ado-Ekiti in the presence of the former Secretary of the Peoples
Democratic Party in the state, Dr. Tope Aluko, and other party
stalwarts. Fayose
has since dismissed this allegation, accusing the Federal government of
wanting to rope him into the case by all means possible since he is
always very critical of the Buhari-led adminisitration.
Commenting
on Fayose's denial, the EFCC source said “The governor is just
grandstanding because of the immunity he enjoys. He personally admitted
collecting money from Zenith Bank as a campaign gift. His associate,
Agbele, reeled out how houses were bought from the N1.299billion brought
by Obanikoro. And the ex-Minister has finally nailed him with his
statement on oath. Fayose has a date with the court. It is just a matter of time. In two years, he will be in the dock to account for the contracts he executed in the ONSA to have earned such slush funds".
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