The EFCC allegedly traced N4.7 billion from the diverted
$2.1 billion arms procurement fund to former Minister of State Defence, Musiliu
Obanikoro and Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose. According to a report by The Nation, the money which was
sourced from the SAS Imprest Account in the Office of the former National
Security Adviser (ONSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), was used during the Ekiti
state governorship election on June 21st 2014.
According to EFCC findings, Fayose’s associate, Abiodun
Agbele(Alias Abbey); Mrs. Helen Olayemi Fayose; Obanikoro’s sons — Gbolahan and
Babajide, Ikenna Ezekwe; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited(a company allegedly run by the
Obanikoros); Spotless Hotel, owned by Fayose and De Privateer Limited, which is
owned by Agbele, were all benefited from the sharing of the N4.7 billion. About
30 bureaux de change changed N759, 384, 300 (out of the N4.745billion) into
dollars.
According to EFCC sources, Obanikoro who was a minister in
2014, flew N1.218 billion cash to Akure on June 12th, 2014 for Fayose a few
days before the state governorship election. Investigations by the EFCC showed
that a firm, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, which is allegedly owned by Obanikoro and
his sons, was used to launder the N4.745 billion. The directors of the company,
which was incorporated in November 2011, are: 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.
“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.”an EFCC source said
According to the antigraft agency, when it was time to
illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA for election, Obanikoro made the
account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.
The breakdown of the disbursement is N759, 384, 300 changed
into dollars through bureaux de change; N160million spent on cars through
Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two
flights to a branch of Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure to
evacuate the cash and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about
N2billion withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.
Some of the bureaux de change and the amounts credited to
them include A.A.G.B.S Oil and Gas (N168,000,000.00); Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd
(N167,500,000.00); Northline Ltd (N835,000.00);
Northline Ltd (N83,750,000.00); Five Star Ltd N(37,600,000.00); A.B.A
Trading Ent (N268,301,500.00); Villagolf Bureaux De (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad
Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd
(N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes (N20,000,0000); Northline Ltd
(N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).
Investigations by EFCC also showed how N1, 219, 490,000 was
allegedly flown to Akure Airport on June 12, 2014 to Fayose through his
associate, Abiodun Agbele (aka Abbey).
A document from the EFCC detailing its investigation into
the N4.7 billion fraud reads:
“On June 12, 2014, the sum of N1, 219, 490,000 was flown
from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu
Obanikoro through a chartered plane (HS 125 jet) with a tail number
N638MA. The plane belongs to Okin Travels which is a subsidiary of Elizade
Motors. But the aircraft was then managed by OAS Helicopters for commercial/
chartered service. The ex-minister was accompanied by his military Aide-de-Camp
who introduced himself as A.O. Adewale. The N1, 219, 490,000 was in two
consignments but flown in the same aircraft twice in the morning and in the
evening. From FAAN records, the first cash of N724, 500,000 arrived at Akure
Airport at an estimated time of 9.38am and the second was at 17.57hours. A
bullion van was brought by Zenith Bank to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to
evacuate the cash to Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure. Obanikoro
handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey). This
Abiodun in company with the bank officials moved the money to Zenith Bank in Akure.”
The EFCC gave details of how the N1, 219, 490,000 was shared
to Fayose and others by Agbele.”
The document said: “The N1, 219, 490,000 was not deposited
in any account but it was kept in a vault in the bank. It took the bank
officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it
was counted. Shortly after confirming the figure, Abiodun was used to
coordinate the disbursement of the funds. On June 26, 2014, the wanted
associate (Abiodun Agbele) paid N137million into Ayodele Fayose’s account
10003126654 with Zenith Bank through Teller-0556814. Fayose’s BVN on the teller
is 22338867502. On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account.
By the records from the bank, Abiodun paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s
account on 27/8/14. Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed
Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street,
Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502. After that,
Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless
Hotel Account run by Fayose and Helen
Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and
Helen’s BVN in the account is 22298990256. The governor and Helen are the two
directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account”
In the course of the investigation, the EFCC officials
investigated how De Privateer Limited, a company owned by Abiodun Agbele, with
Account No. 1013835889 received N219, 490,000 on June 18, 2014.
“On June 19, 2014, the same account received N300million and
another N200million on June 23, 2014. The BVN of the account is 22235692890.
A top official of the EFCC said: “Fayose benefited from the
ONSA slush funds when he was yet to be a governor. So, the fact that he has immunity
now as a governor does not mean we should not investigate him. The EFCC also
has the right to interact with all those connected with the illegal withdrawal
of public funds and the diversion of the cash.”
The antigraft agency says it will soon be inviting Fayose's
aide for questioning
“We will invite him for interrogation; we have already
initiated the process.”
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