Though I refunded N200m, I’m surprised Dasuki money is tagged ‘illicit’, Obanikoro tells court

A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Wednesday, told a Federal High Court in Lagos he was surprised money meant for secret security operations by the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki was tagged “illicit”.

Obanikoro was testifying against former governor Ayodele Fasoye of Ekiti state in a N2.2billion charge against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Obanikoro explained that he had been under investigations by EFCC since 2016 following a petition against him by Babagana Monguno, Dasuki’s successor.

Monguno had accused Obanikoro of failing to properly document the use of a sum of N4.6 billion transferred to an account operated by him.

He argued that it was not a standard practice to document funds spent on secret security operations as a response to question asked him by one of the defence counsels, defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN).

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Although he admitted to have ‘reluctantly ‘ refunded N200million to the federal government, he maintained the money delivered to Fasoye in 2014, as directed by Dasuki, was not from illicit source.

He added that the money was transferred into the bank account of a firm which has the signatories of two of his children.

He explained, “The NSA coordinates all the security agencies. Some of their operations are clandestine and are usually not documented.

“It bothers me that clandestine operations of the NSA are described as illicit. It should worry every Nigeria. I am surprised that the current NSA can characterise the funds as illicit.

“The local Joint Task Force on Boko Haram is still being funded by the NSA and the operation started under our watch.”

“Yes, they (his children) were signatories to the account prior to the operation in 2014.

“My children have relationship with the company. I also have relationship with the company.”

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