Clearer pictures are unfolding on how funds from the Office of the former National Security Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, were spent by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an affidavit it filed at a Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State in response to a suit Fayose filed over the freezing of his accounts by the anti-graft agency deposed that Fayose through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.
The money, according to the anti-graft agency, was traced to Fayose’s accounts in Zenith Bank Plc.
According to the affidavit, N1.21 billion out of N2.26 billion was paid to the account of Slyvan Mcnamara Limited, a company linked to the sons of Obanikoro, and was disbursed by Fayose.
The commission also gave details of the kickbacks received from Ekiti State contractors by Fayose.
Eagle Online cites an operative of the EFCC, Tosin Owobo, who authored the affidavit, as saying that Obanikoro conveyed the money himself to Fayose via Akure in Ondo State.
The affidavit reads in part: “Prior to Obanikoro’s arrival in Akure, Alade Oluseye, a staff of Zenith Bank, had informed his colleague, Lawrence Akande, that the money was being brought through the Akure Airport for lodgement and since the volume of the cash was huge, he would be needing a bullion van to convey the money,” he said.
“On June 17, 2014, Oluseye, accompanied by Biodun Agbele, who was fronting for Fayose, arrived the Akure airport and took delivery of N724,500,000.00 from Obanikoro who was with his ADC, Lieutenant Colonel A.O. Adewale.
“The next day, N494, 990,000.00 was delivered by Obanikoro in the same manner at the airport. In all, Obanikoro conveyed N1, 219,490,000.00 through a chartered aircraft belonging to GYRO AIR Limited with registration number: HS125-800 5N-BMT.
“After Oluseye took delivery of the money from Obanikoro, on June 19, 2014, Agbele was instructed by the governor to deposit N219 million in cash to De-privateer Limited’s Zenith Bank account number: 1013835889.
“On the same day the said Biodun Agbele made another cash deposit in the sum of N300 million being part of the proceeds of crimes to the said De- privateer Ltd’s with the 2nd Respondent.
“On the 23rd June, 2014 the sum of N200,000,000.00 (Two Hundred Million Naira) being part of these proceeds of crime, was also deposited to the said De-Privateer Ltd’s account domiciled with the Respondent by Biodun Agbele whilst acting in concert with the Applicant.
“On the 26th day of June,2014 the said Biodun Agbele on the instruction of Applicant further dissipated the proceeds of crime by depositing the sum of N137,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Thirty Seven Million Naira) to account No. 1003126654 domiciled with the 2nd Respondent in the name of the Applicant.
“On the 22nd and 27th day of August, 2014 Biodun Agbele also deposited the sum of N50, 000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) and N118, 760,000.00 (One Hundred and Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) respectively to the said account which sum formed part of the proceeds of crime.
“In further dissipating the proceeds of crime deposited and retained in the account referred to in paragraphs (d) and (g) above, the sum of N300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) was put in a fixed deposit account No. 9013074033 in the name of the Applicant on the 7th day of April,2015.
“On June 17, 2014, Agbele deposited N100 million to the account of Spotless Investment Limited, owned by Fayose, with Zenith Bank (number: 1010170969). On June 23, 2014, he also deposited N49 million to the account of Spotless Investment.”
Owobo also revealed that contrary to the claim by Fayose that the EFCC arbitrarily blocked his account without a valid court order, the agency got an interim order from Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos to “prevent further dissipation of proceed of crimes.
“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the exercise of his statutory mandate contained in section 34 of the EFCC Act having satisfied himself that the various sums of money in the account No. 1003126654, 9013074033, 1010170969 and 1013835888 domiciled with the 2nd Respondent were made through the commission of the Economic and Financial Crimes to wit: stealing and receiving gratification approached the Federal High Court Lagos Judicial Division, for an order directing the Manager of the 2nd Respondent to freeze the said accounts.
“In his wisdom, Hon. Justice M.B Idris granted the 1st Respondent’s application wherein an order of interim attachment was made on the aforementioned accounts. Attached and marked exhibit EFCC 09 is a certified true copy of the said order.
“The said order was a preservative order to prevent further dissipation of proceeds of crimes.”
Owobo said having obtained an interim order from a court of law, Fayose can no longer use the court as a shield against criminal investigation, adding that while the governor has immunity against civil and criminal proceeding, the proceeds of economic and financial crimes allegedly committed by him do not enjoy such privilege.
