Obanikoro details how he gave Omisore N1.7bn

A former Minister or State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has continued with his revelations to the EFCC, revealing that he gave a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, N1.7 billion out of the N4.7 he allegedly received from the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

It would be recalled that Obanikoro had earlier told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that he handed out $5.37 million to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, adding that he also handed another N1.3 billion to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele for his 2014 election.

According to an EFCC source, the former minister failed to disclose what the money given to Omisore was meant for.

The source said: “The former minister, Obanikoro, has been cooperating very well with our operatives by giving detailed information regarding the N4.7 billion traced to him and companies linked to his sons.

“Obanikoro has confirmed that he actually transferred the sum of N1.7 billion from the NSA’s Office to Senator Iyiola Omisore but did not say why he did so and what the money was meant for.

“Obanikoro said out of N4.685 billion transferred to Sylva McNamara Limited, the sum of N3.880 billion was transferred to both Ayodele Fayose and Senator Omisore through cash and bank transfers.

“The dollar contents were handed over to Fayose personally by me in the presence of some party leaders and he collected it and took it to the room next to where we were all seated.

“The location where I gave the dollars to him is called Spotless Hotel, Ado-Ekiti. One of the party leaders that was present was Dr. Tope Aluko, who was then the Secretary of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I transferred N1.7 billion to Omisore. The money was paid into his account and companies nominated by him.”

Speaking further, the source said: “The former minister confessed that he never had any business dealings with Omisore and did not execute any contract for him to warrant the transfer of the huge sum of money from the ONSA to companies nominated by him.

“Omisore himself is under investigation and we will have a day for himself. “Obanikoro was very clear in the way the transaction was carried out. He did not mince words at all.

“When we get to the bridge we will cross,” the top operative said. It will be recalled that the EFCC had in July this year arrested and detained Omisore after many failed bids to get at him to answer questions relating to the cash transfer.

An EFCC report detailed the companies through which the funds were transferred to Omisore as follows: Fimex Gilt Limited (N160m)-8/8/2014 in UBA; Metropolitan Consortium (N350m)- 9/7/14 in First Bank; Sawanara (N300m)—1/8/14 in First Bank and Metropolitan Consortium (N350m)-1/8/14 in First Bank.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews…

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