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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