Embattled
former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro may soon be let
out of custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following
indications that he has agreed to make refunds of the money he allegedly
collected from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The
anti-graft agency accused the ex-minister of collecting N785 million from ONSA
while in office.
His
friends and associates are understood to be rallying around him to raise the
funds as a first step to secure his bail.
Obanikoro
is understood to be targeting N100 million as first installment of
the refund.
From
ONSA, about N4.685 billon was transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, a company
allegedly linked to the ex-Minister.
Obanikoro
told EFCC interrogators that N3.880 billion of the N4.685 billion was
allocated to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and
Senator Iyiola Omisore.
He
also said he handed over $5.377 million (about N60 million 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.
He
said the balance of N785 million was expended on alleged anti-Boko Haram
campaign in Lagos and the South-West.
A
source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The ex-minister has been cooperating
with detectives and he appears willing to refund some cash out of the N785
million traced to Sylvan McNamara.
“I
think his associates and friends have rallied around him, having discovered
that the bulk of the cash from ONSA went to Fayose and Omisore.
“I
think he might initially refund N100 million to get bail reprieve in order to
prevail on others who benefited from the N785 million to repay the slush funds.
“The
refund is one of the issues delaying the granting of bail to the ex-minister.”
Obanikoro
had said: “The balance of N785 milion were used to prosecute the
following: 1. procurement of souvenirs for the promotion of anti-Boko Haram
insurgency in Lagos; 2. N200million for surveillance activities; 3. N200
million and other remaining funds were for operations managed by Taiwo Kareem.
“Taiwo
Kareem impressed the former NSA with his management of pre and post-election
funds. To God be the glory, the two elections were carried out without any loss
of life
“When
bomb blast occurred in Lagos on the 25th of June 2014, the NSA was disturbed
and told me of his commitment to ensure that such doesn’t reoccur.
“He
expressed the grave consequence that the reoccurrence will have not only on
Lagos but the economy of the entire country.
“He
emphasised the need for local input to complement the activities of security
agencies. This is how Sylvan McNamara was introduced.”
The
EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro
and his sons, was used to launder the N4.745 billion.
The
company, which was incorporated in November 2011 had the following as its
directors: a close 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.
Ikenna
Ezekwe’s account has been de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush
funds were not traced to him.
Ezekwe
has also been removed as the director of the slush company.
A
document said: “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.”
EFCC
claimed that when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745 billion from
ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-minister Obanikoro made the
account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.
Contacted,
Obanikoro’s spokesperson, Jonathan Eze, said he was not aware of the
development.
Another
source close to him, however, said “it is true.”
Source:The Nation
Tags
Politics