Why ‘We Airlifted N1.219bn To Fayose For 2014 Election’ – Obanikoro Tells Court

A former minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, on Wednesday, revealed that N1.219 billion cash was airlifted to former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose during the 2014 election.

DAILY REPORT NG reports that the former governor is facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited, over their alleged involvement in N6.9 billion money laundering.

Giving evidence as a witness of the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, Obanikoro informed Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he received the money from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

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He said: “I was a minister under Jonathan’s administration. Sometime in 2014, we were going to have an election in Ekiti State. Some days before the election, I got a call from governor Fayose asking me if I received any message for him from ONSA, I told him I would call him later.

“Then I had a phone conversation with the NSA and he told me that N2.2 billion was paid into the Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd account. And I handed over the N1.219 billion cash to Mr Agbele, the bank manager for onward delivery to Fayose. I didn’t take N19 million, contrary to a publication by a Lagos based online platform.”

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When asked about his relationship with Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, the former minister said, “the account was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos.

“We airlifted the funds from Lagos in two tranches because the aircraft could not accommodate the funds.”

The case was adjourned to February 27, 2024, for continuation of trial.