Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro
According to The Nation,
a former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly loaded a
chartered aircraft with N1,299,490 billion for transfer to Governor
Ayodele Fayose through an associate, Abiodun Agbele.
The report states that the cash was transferred through HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.
The first flight was filled with N724.5million cash to the extent that there was no seat for any crew member or the ex-Minister.
It was during the second flight with N494.990m that Obanikoro, his
Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale, and crew member joined the
trip to Akure Airport.
Records indicated yesterday that for each of the trip, Obanikoro paid $12,500 making a total of $25,000.
The EFCC has retrieved the footage details of Obanikoro’s movement
at the airport and the flight schedule of the aircraft. It is alleged in
the footage that the ex-Minister had defied security gate at the
airport in Lagos to move a bullion van to the apron of the chartered
wing to off-load the cash.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Contrary to
his attacks on EFCC, we have retrieved the footage and details of how he
ordered soldiers to break the barriers at the reserved security gate at
Lagos Airport for a bullion van to go to the apron of the chartered
service wing.
“He defied security men at the airport and refused to subject
the bullion van to any screening contrary to aviation rules. In fact,
apart from financial crimes, the ex-Minister and his accomplices have
outstanding allegations against them for violating aviation safety rules
or regulations.
“The aircraft made two shuttles to Akure Airport on June 17,
2014. Our investigation revealed that during the first flight, about
N724.5million was offloaded from the bullion into the aircraft. The cash
occupied all the space to the extent that there was nowhere to sit by
the crew and the ex-Minister.
“But when the balance of N494.990m was loaded into the aircraft
for the second trip, Obanikoro, his ADC, one highly-placed person from
the South-West, and the crew were able to make the trip.
“Let him continue to make noise in the United States instead of
coming home to clear his name. We have interacted with the aviation
staff on ground on the said date. We have identified the owner of the
aircraft to be a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.”
Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the ex-Minister paid $25,000 for the two flights to Akure at $12,500 each.
Another source confirmed that the aircraft belonged a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.
“We have evidence of the payment of $25,000 to Gyro Air Limited
for the two flights to Akure. And Zenith Bank confirmed how Fayose’s
associate, Agbele, brought the cash into its branch in Akure to keep as
sundry funds.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “From our findings, the Minister and Fayose fought over N80million missing from the total cash.
“They had a shouting match until reasons prevailed between the two politicians on the whereabouts of the N80million.”
An Investigating Officer of the EFCC, Tosin Owobo during the week
opened up at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti on how the N1,
299,490,000.00 was wired into Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accounts by one
of his associates, Abiodun Agbele.
Owobo, who swore to an affidavit, said: “That the total sum of N
1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four
hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by
Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No:
HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”
“That on the 17th day of June, 2014, Mr. Alade Oluseye in the
company of one Abiodun Agbele a front of the Applicant (Fayose), went to
the Akure Airport wherein they took cash delivery of the sum of
N724,500,000.00 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his acclaimed
Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale.
“That on the 18th day of June, 2014, another sum of N494,
990,000 was also delivered to Mr. Alade Oluseye by the said Minister in
the same manner.
“That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two
hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira)
was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered
aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air
Limited.”
No comments:
Post a Comment