Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, took the stand on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, offering a detailed account of the alleged airlifting of N1.2 billion in cash from Lagos to Ekiti State in 2014. The money, he claimed, was intended for Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, just a month before his successful bid for a second term.
The N1.2 billion in question is a focal point in the ongoing trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Mr. Fayose. The trial, overseen by Federal High Court judge Nnamdi Dimgba, is centered on charges of money laundering involving a total of N4.7 billion. This larger sum is said to have been diverted from the National Security Adviser's office account.
Obanikoro, testifying as a prosecution witness, explained that Diamond Bank, where the money was held, was unable to disburse it due to its significant volume. He emphasized that he did not know the source of the money, receiving information about it from Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser.
According to Obanikoro, the funds were meant for the Ekiti State election, and he handed over N1.219 million in cash to Agbele for delivery to Fayose. He denied personally benefiting from the funds, refuting claims made in a publication by a Lagos-based online platform.
The former minister elaborated on the creation of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, the company linked to him. He stated that the account was established to address Boko Haram issues in Lagos and was subsequently used to disburse election funds.
To overcome Diamond Bank's incapacity to make the funds available, Obanikoro revealed that the cash was airlifted from Lagos in two tranches. He, along with his ADC, security orderly, and a top aide of Fayose, oversaw the delivery to Agbele.
The trial is set to continue on February 27, 2024, as the court delves deeper into the intricate details of this high-stakes case
