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 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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