Alleged Fraud: Obanikoro speaks on giving $5m to Fayose

A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has testified that he was directed to pay money from public funds to former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.

According to him, he paid the sum of $5 million to Fayose from the national security funds.

“A total equivalent of $5 million from National Security Adviser impress account was given to Fayose by the order of NSA,” he said when he appeared before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday.

Subsequently, the counsel to Mr Fayose, Kanu Agabi (SAN), applied for an adjournment to enable him to cross-examine Mr Obanikoro.

He said he would need more time to look through his statements before cross-examining the witness.

The counsel to the 2nd defendant, Olalekan Ojo, also urged the judge to adjourn the case to enable him to confer with his client on the evidence of the witness.

Subsequently, the presiding judge, Mojisola Olatoregun, adjourned the case to February 4,5 and 6, 2019.

Read Also: Witness Testifies Against Fayose As Trial Continues

Fayose and his company, Spotless, are facing 11 charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also accused Fayose of benefitting from the five billion dollars slush funds allocated to the office of National Security Adviser by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had on October 24, granted bail to the former Governor to the tune of N50 million with two sureties who must issue a N50 million bond in a reputable bank as well as possess three years tax clearance.

She had also directed that the former governor deposits his international passport with the court.