A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, on Wednesday, told the court why they airlifted N1.219 billion to former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose for the governorship election in the state.
Fayose is facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside his firm, Spotless Investment Limited, following their alleged involvement in N6.9 billion money laundering.
During the court sitting on Wednesday presided by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Obanikoro blamed the inability of a defunct commercial bank (Diamond Bank) to disburse huge sums of money, hence the need for them to airlift N1.219 billion cash to Fayose.
Speaking about the source of the said N1.219 billion, Obanikoro said he didn’t know, but that he only got the information on the money from the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd).
He explained that it was the former NSA that contacted him that the said money had been paid into the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.
“I was a minister under the Jonathan administration in 2014. Sometime in 2014, we were going to have an election in Ekiti State. I was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the activities in the election.
“Some days before the election, I got a call from Governor Fayose asking me if I received any message for him from ONSA, I can recall that prior to that, we had some activities among which was fund raising for the purpose of that election.
“When Mr. Fayose called, I told him I would call him later. I had a phone conversation with the NSA, and was told he would get back to me. After, he got back to me that N2.2 million was paid into the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd,” Obanikoro explained to the court.
He however added that: “The money came from the NSA. I can’t vouch for the source of the funds. Only the NSA can explain the source of the fund.
“I handed over the N1.219 million cash to Agbele for onward delivery to Fayose. I did not take any money or N19 Million, contrary to a publication by a Lagos-based online platform.”
