Why Obanikoro Detained Over N4.7b Fraud

An aide to Senator Obanikoro, Mr. Jonathan Eze, in a statement last night said the former minister had been detained by the anti-graft agency.

The statement said: “Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the immediate past minister of defence and foreign affairs arrived in Abuja this morning (yesterday) and headed straight for the office of the EFCC.

“This is consequent upon an invitation sent to him by the anti-graft body, which was received on June 15, 2016, coincidentally at a time and period he was pursuing academic postgraduate degree in the United States.

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“As at now, interrogations have ended and it will continue tomorrow. However, the minister shall remain with the operatives for further questioning tomorrow. (today).

“The officials were impressed with his decision to honour their invitation and so far, there has been mutual cooperation and understanding between the agency and my principal.

“We wish to use this medium to commend the EFCC for the mature way they went about the interrogations. They were truly professional.

“Senator Obanikoro has served this country at every level from local government chairman till his appointments as minister twice and he is proud of his contributions so far. He is not a fugitive as has been erroneously painted in the media and his returning to the country on his own volition is a further testimony to this.”

Former Minister of State for Defence  Musiliu Obanikoro yesterday surrendered  to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), which is probing his role in the alleged disbursement of N4.745billion for the Ekiti State 2014 governorship election. The cash is believed to have come from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The anti-graft commission began the grilling of the ex-Minister at about 2pm.

The EFCC, said a source, was making efforts to secure a court order to keep Obanikoro in detention for the duration of his interrogation.

Also sighted at the EFCC yesterday was a former Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Tope Aluko, who was a witness to how about N1.299billion was flown to the state to influence the governorship poll in 2014.

It was learnt that Aluko may be a star witness against Obanikoro, Governor Ayodele Fayose and Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (Alias Abbey).

Obanikoro arrived in Abuja at about 10am, but the EFCC team did not start attending to him until about 2pm.

Clad in a white kaftan, Obanikoro, who looked trim, was seen at the EFCC’s office at about 1.40pm in company of the Deputy National Chairman of the Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and five others.

He was smiling and shaking hands with people, including reporters.

The presence of Aluko pointed to a likely encounter with Obanikoro in the interrogation room.

A source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “While were are preparing to declare him wanted, the ex-minister surrendered to the EFCC for interrogation in respect of the probe of alleged N4.745billion fraud.

“Obviously, Obanikoro is the long-awaited suspect and we believe his coming will assist us in the investigation of how the money was sourced from the $2.1billion meant for arms from the Office of the National Security (ONSA).

“We have grilled him for more than three hours but this may take some days. It is about 90 per cent certain that we are not likely to release him.

“We need to interact also with his sons and daughter, based on the evidence at our disposal.”

Earlier, in a WhatsApp message, Obanikoro said:  “I am in Abuja, just wanted to be the one to tell you.”

The EFCC had discovered that Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a company believed to be owned by Obanikoro and his sons,   was used to launder the N4.745billion.

The company, which was incorporated in November 2011, has as its directors an 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.

Ezekwe’s accounts have been de-frozen by the EFCC since the slush funds were not traced to him.

A document on the investigation states: “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 signatories to the account.

“The board added that the signing combination be that any of the signatories can sign alone.”

According to the EFCC, when it was time to illegally draw the N4.745billion from ONSA as war chest for Ekiti Governorship poll, ex-Minister Obanikoro made the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited available and coordinated the disbursement.”

The breakdown of the disbursement is as follows:  N759, 384, 300 changed into dollars through bureau de change firms; N160million spent on cars through Balmoral International Limited; N1, 219, 490,000 ferried by Obanikoro in two flights to Akure for Fayose’s associate, Abiodun; balance of about N2billion allegedly withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

Some of the bureaux de change involved in the transactions and the amounts credited to them are:  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 Bureau De Change (N1,425,000.00); Ahmad &Omar (N350,000.000); Northline Ltd  (N1,680,000.00); Northline Limited A (N2,325,300); Rehoboth Homes  (20,000,0000); Northline Ltd (N5,932,500.00); Northline Ltd (N842,500); Northline Ltd (N842,500.00).

The EFCC probe showed how N1.299 billion was flown to Akure Airport on June 12, 2014, to Fayose through Agbele.

A report on the investigation reads: “On June 12, 2014, N1.299 billion was flown from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu Obanikoro through a chartered plane with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.

“The N1.299 billion 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 to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to evacuate the cash to Plot 13 Alagbaka Estate, Akure.

“Obanikoro handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey).”

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Again, Another $5m Stolen By Fayose, Obanikoro EXPOSED, Ekiti Attorney General ARRESTED, Confesses Top Secret

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered another $5million (N1.040billion) cash allegedly given to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose by former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, it was learnt yesterday.

The cash is part of the N4.7billion slush funds traced  to Obanikoro’s company, Sylva McNamara.

Out of the $5 million, EFCC’s investigation has shown how Fayose allegedly gave his associate , Abiodun Agbele, over $1million as part-payment for the acquisition of four chalets in Lagos.

The bubble burst when Agbele took the $1million to a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Ahmed Uba, who transferred the cash to Still Earth as part-payment for the properties.

Also, the EFCC has grilled Ekiti State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Kolapo Kolade, who admitted that he facilitated the agreements for the four properties.

Kolade, who may face EFCC interrogators on August 30, it was gathered, said he was paid N1million for the job.

According to a top source in the commission, the ongoing investigation of Fayose for allegedly receiving N1.219billion from Obanikoro, also revealed that he got another $5m cash (N1.040billion) from the ex-minister.

“Our investigation so far has shown that  out of the $5m Fayose gave Agbele $1million which Agbele gave to a BDC operator who transferred the money to Still Earth as part-payment for the properties bought.

“Going through the accounts of Fayose, you could see a lot of transactions. Kolapo Kolade , now a commissioner in Fayose’s cabinet was the one who arranged the agreement between Still Earth and J.J. Technical.

“We have interrogated the owner of the BDC Jamil Uba, who told us how he asked his staff to attend to Agbele. Jamil said ‘I instructed Abba Ahmed Uba to transfer the money into Still Earth accounts because Abba Ahmed Uba was working under me that day when Agbele sold $1million at the rate of N208, which is equivalent of N208million.”

The EFCC team has also discovered that one of the companies used for the purchase of the properties , J.J. Technicals Limited, was not in the picture until the owners were invited for questioning.

The source said: “Agbele got Maroun Mechleb, a Lebanese and contractor to the Ekiti State Government to provide a company, J.J. Technicals Services Limited whose name was used in making the agreement for the sale of the four chalets in Victoria Island by Still Earth.

“J.J. Technicals Services belongs to Maroun Mechleb’s junior brother, Joseph and his brother-in-law. They gave him the company’s document to help them prospect for contracts in Ekiti State. He gave the company’s document to Agbele  without their knowledge.”

The two Lebanese, Joseph and Maroum Mechleb have told the EFCC that they had nothing to do with the purchase of the four properties in Lagos.

The source quoted Maroun Mechleb as saying:  “I also saw an agreement with my signature between Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited for the sum of $1.1m. I am not aware of the agreement even though my signature appears on it. The agreement is between Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited and J.J . Technical Services. My brother who owns the company does not know anything about the whole agreement with Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited.”

According to the source, Joseph Mechleb said: “I did not know that the company was used to buy any property. I don’t know of any property(ies) that J.J. Technical Services bought. I hear of Fayose but have never heard of Biodun Agbele.

“I don’t know of any company with the name, Still Earth. I got to know of a  property that was bought with J.J. Technical Services few weeks ago when our manager told me that the EFCC has invited me to Abuja. I am not a signatory to the said account.

“I don’t know the said property. I don’t know where it is located . I have never heard of any property purchased with J.J. Technicals before.

“I have not done any project in Ekiti State before. I only go visiting and sight-seeing. I visit our site in Imore, Ikere Road. I don’t visit Fayose in Ekiti. It is Maroun that works in Ekiti

State.”

Kolade, who was grilled by EFCC, it was learnt, said he knew of the agreements for the four chalets.

He said: “Sometimes in early January 2015,  Abiodun Agbele approached me that he and his friend wanted to buy a property in Lagos and gave me the particulars of the property situated on Victoria Island and that I should keep them and  conduct a search.

“I did and advised him that the property is free from encumbrance. About a month later or there about, he came to me and said the property had been paid for and that I should help them go to Lagos to collect the agreements from a company called Still Earth. I went to Lagos and collected the agreements. It was in respect of two  chalets; the agreements were between Still Earth and J.J. Technicals.

“The two agreements I signed for them at Still Earth, I brought them to Ado -Ekiti. Upon looking through the documents given to me at Still Earth, the agreement with which Still Earth bought the property from a company called Noga Hotels was also given to me.

“I noticed that Still Earth Company newly bought the property from Noga and had not perfected their papers.

“The staff of Still Earth said they could get Noga Hotels to make an agreement directly with my clients, J.J. Technicals so that they don’t do double consent but the money she asked for was ridiculously high and going through the document, I saw that the lawyer that acted for Noga Hotels is one Adekunle Ojo, who incidentally is my friend.

“I  told my client, who asked me to discuss with Lawyer Adekunle Ojo if he could work on the agreement between Noga Hotels and J.J. Technicals Services. I called Mr. Adekunle Ojo, he agreed , he said his chambers will collect N500,000 if he did that. I told my client, they said he should go ahead.

“The money was given to me and I paid it into his account. When the documents were ready, he  handed them over to me and I handed them over to Agbele and one white man who both came to me to collect same.

“The white man signed and they took the agreement away and gave me N500,000 as my fees. That is all I know about the first two chalets.

“After about two months or thereabout, Agbele called me that he has given my number to the Still Earth people and they will  call me. Later that day, someone from Still Earth called me that I should send my e-mail address. I did and the person sent to me an offer letter in respect of yet another two chalets in the same estate on Victoria Island.

“I told Agbele and he said I should accept the offer. I did by replying the e-mail. I didn’t hear anything again until one day Agbele called me again that I should  help him collect documents from Still Earth Limited in respect of the two chalets.

“This second set of agreements was made between a company called Signachorr and J.J. Technicals Services. I took them to Ado-Ekiti and handed them over to Agbele. The white man did not come  with him the second time.

“Agbele said I should help him approach Mr. Adekunle Ojo to help him write an agreement between Noga Hotels and J.J. Technical Services. I did and Mr. Adekunle Ojo sent the second set of agreement . I was also given N500,000 for him which I also paid into his account. I was also paid N500,00 for my efforts.

“When I approached Mr. Adekunle Ojo to  help write an agreement between Noga Hotels and J.J. Technicals in respect of the two sets of agreement, he demanded for copies of the agreement between Still Earth and J.J. Technicals as a confirmation that J.J . Technicals actually bought from Still Earth.

“I was given a copy of the agreement to give him and I actually gave him. He also called to inform me that he also confirmed from Still Earth that J.J. Technical actually bought the properties before agreeing to prepare the agreements. I don’t know who J.J. Technical is.”

Source: TheNation

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Fayose, Obanikoro, Actually 'Stole' The N1.2b Meant For 6 Others, It Took Us 10hrs To Load The Money In 65 Bags - Another Withness

The unending revelations trailing the N1.2billion election fraud money involving the fugitive, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Defence Minister of State and the Ekiti State embattled Governor, Ayodele Fayose continues as one  Damola Otuyalo, the Head of Cash-In-Trust Service of Diamond Bank has also rolled out his role in the alleged fraudulent practice.

Revelations coming from a witness in the alleged diversion of that sum by former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State for the prosecution of the 2014 governor election in the state, said it took ten hours, and two aircraft over three flights, The Nation Newspaper reports this morning

Imagine what effort goes into loading 65 bags containing N1.2billion raw cash into a plane, our Source wonders

Head of Cash-In-Trust Service of Diamond Bank, Damola Otuyalo, said in a statement of oath to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) that the money was first taken to the Ikeja Airport at dawn in 65 bags before being  dispatched to Ekiti State via the Akure airport.

It was also gathered that the cash, which was originally released for   six beneficiaries – Santuraki Bello (N200m); Yusuf Bulama (N120m); Chimenum Njoku (N250m); Josiah Moses (N280m); Abubakar Sadiq Zanna (N200m); and Franklin Tolani (N150m)- was  diverted to Fayose by Obanikoro under the pretence  that the six persons could not be located.

Otuyalo, in his oath, said:”On the N1.2billion, my director, Mr. Premier Oiwoh informed me about the payment on the 10th of June 2014. Cash was gathered together on the 17th of June and was taken to the location where I was told to take it to.

“The location was the private wing of the Lagos Airport and date was on the 17th of June 2014.

“We got to the private wing before 7am in the morning and left the airport at 4pm in the afternoon. The cash was bagged in cash bags totaling about 65 and everything was offloaded from the bullion van.

“What I mean by cash was gathered was that as part of routine of the unit, we normally evacuate branches that have excess cash and either move it to branches with low cash or move it to CBN or swap with other banks.

“The instruction, dated 16th of June 2014 was given to me where six beneficiaries were to be paid.

“The names of the beneficiaries were Santuraki Bello (N200m); Yusuf Bulama (N120m); Chimenum Njoku (N250m); Josiah Moses (N280m); Abubakar Sadiq Zanna (N200m); and Franklin Tolani (N150m).

“The above-named beneficiaries were not available to be paid as I did not see them. I was further directed by Mr. Premier Oiwoh to move the money to the airport where I will be given further instruction on who to pay.

“The cash was moved to the airport through the Cash-In-Transit vendor, Benters Warehouse Limited (BWL). I contacted the vendor, who made the bullion vehicle available for the movement.

“I personally supervised the loading of the money into the bullion van and escorted the money to the airport. I was in my vehicle while the bullion van was also escorted by the police.

“As at the time I left the banking premises, I did not sight the beneficiaries.”

Otuyalo confirmed an earlier report by The Nation that they were disallowed access to the security gate at the reserved wing at the airport.

He, however, said Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of the ex-Minister, cleared them at the airport gate.

The banker added:”When we got to the gate, we were not allowed in as we did not have any pass. However, Gbolahan Obanikoro came, he cleared us and we moved in.

“I identified Gbolahan Obanikoro while my boss, Premier Oiwoh, called me on the phone that Gbolahan was around. He spoke to Gbolahan through my phone and the phone was also handed back to me where it was confirmed that that was the beneficiary to pay the money to.

“Besides this, politicians are really not hidden from the public. So, I was also able to recognise him apart from my boss’s confirmation.

“When we eventually gained entrance into the private wing, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro came in with two armed policemen and a few friends and cash was offloaded into the first aircraft which flew him out of the airport.

“The aircraft later came back and the second batch of money was also offloaded into the aircraft from the bullion van.

“As the second aircraft could not also contain the remaining amount due to the size of the aircraft and weight it can carry.

“I recall that another aircraft was also used to move the final batch of the money from the bullion van.

“The second and third movements were supervised by Gbolahan Obanikoro as his father had left with the first aircraft.

“I got back to my boss, Premier Oiwoh, that the assignment was concluded and he said okay.”

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Amidst Denial, Naval Officer Confessed Obanikoro Ordered Him To Convey Bullion Van Full Of Billions To Fayose

Despite denials,  naval officer, Lt. Commander A. O. Adewale who was a former aide to the fugitive former minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has opened up on the secret deal of how he helped his boss conveyed bullion van full of billion of nairas to Akure.

Both Obanikoro ad Fayose have denied having any deal with the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki

Adewale made the confession to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the role  he played to move the funds to Ekiti State for the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

Lt. Commander A. O. Adewale gave a blow-by-blow account of the cash movement when he was grilled by some EFCC operatives.

The EFCC is investigating the N1.299billion cash taken to Governor Ayodele Fayose by Obanikoro in chartered flight before the election.

The cash was part of the N4.745 billion paid into Obanikoro’s company, Sylva Mcnamara by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Fayose’s associate,  Abiodun Agbele, who received the cash from Obanikoro, is in EFCC custody awaiting arraignment in court. A court last week declared his dention illegal and ordered the EFCC to pay him N5million as damages.

Some of those  already quizzed by the EFCC over the cash movement are the General Manager of Gyro Air Limited, Jide West, a pilot Captain Ahmed Bashir Borodo, a bullion van driver, Omotoso Olaoluwa and some bank officials, among others.

Lt. Commander Adewale told investigators how they started the Ekiti trip from Obanikoro’s Park View, Ikoyi, Lagos home on June 16, 2014.

He said: “I was posted as the Flag Lieutenant to the Hon. Minister of State for Defence from March 2014 to September 2014. Thereafter I proceeded to Defence Intelligence School for my basic French Language course from December 14 to June 2015.

 ”As at when I was the Flag Lieutenant to the Minister of State for Defence, my schedule of duties was being in charge of  Very Important Personalities (VIP)  protection, organisation and administration of the escorts and also coordination of convoys for movement, organisation and administration of the escorts’ means.

“I am responsible to all the security aides attached to the minister. Security aides include the personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. I detail them on VIP protection.

“During my tour of duty as the Flag. Lieutenant to the Minister of State for Defence, I was reporting to the Principal Staff Office, (PSO), Navy Capt. O.O. Fadeyi. During my period as the Flag Lieutenant to the Hon. Minister of State Defence, the then minister was Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

 ”On assumption of duty as the Flag Lieutenant,  I embarked on several trips with the Minister to several military and civil parastatals,  some of which included several visits to Lagos, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Military Pension Board, Air Force Base in Enugu, also visits to Ekiti State, Port Harcout, Bayelsa and the commissioning of the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS) Okpabana in the United States.

“ During my tour of duty, I visited Ekiti twice with the minister. The first was the presidential rally held in Ekiti and the second trip was sometimes in June 2014.

“The movement to Ekiti was by air through a chartered aircraft. It is not part of my duties to initiate movement for the minister.  Every time, the minister informed me verbally of our intended movement, I complied.”

 Adewale, who gave insights into how the trip was arranged, said he prepared the manifest of passengers on board the chartered flight.

He added: “A Gyro Air Limited passenger manifest dated  June 16, 2014 with the departure DN MM with route DN AKR and the following passenger details, (1) the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (2) Dr. Tunde Oshinowo and Lt. Commander A.O. Adewale was shown to me.

“I recognised the manifest via my handwriting and my name is also on the manifest. The flight was organised by the minister and I was given the contact of Mr. Jide West (the General Manager of Gyro Air) to liaise with.

“ On  June 16, 2014,  we left the house of the former minister at Park View, Lagos to the airport. It is pertinent to state that I did not arrange or pay for the chartered flight to Ekiti. I was given the number of Mr. Jide West by the minister for liaison of timing of takeoff.

 ”We got to the airport in the morning of June 16, 2014. On arrival via road from Park View at the airport, the minister’s son, Mr. Gbolahan was at the airport.

 ”A private discussion held between father and son. The minister then informed me of the delay in the movement to Akure. About an hour later, a bullion van pulled into the hangar where the chartered aircraft was parked. Shortly after, Mr. Gbolahan ensured that some bags were offloaded into the plane.

“As at when the bullion van pulled into the airport, I was at the waiting lounge close to where the plane was parked. Shortly after, I boarded the plane with the minister and his civilian friend in person of Mr. Oshinowo as indicated on the manifest.

 ”On arrival at the airport, the minister had private discussions with some of his political friends who received him at the airport in Akure. I was not privy to the discussions.

“However, a bullion van was driven down to the tarmac where the plane was parked. The bags were offloaded into the bullion van and the minister directed that we should escort the van to a particular Zenith Bank branch in Akure. I can recall the exact branch.

“On arrival at the bank, the bags were offloaded by the bank staff under the supervision of a particular civilian who was in company of the minister at the Akure airport.  I don’t know the man personally but with facial recognition, I can identify the man.

“ After offloading the bags and the civilian took custody, the escorts thereafter proceeded to meet the minister.”

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Jimi Agbaje Battles Godfather, Bode George Over PDP National Chairmanship

The rescheduled national convention of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may have pitched former Lagos State PDP governorship Candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and his godfather, Chief Olabode George as both have emerged as the contenders for the coveted national chairmanship of the party, News Punch has authoritatively learnt.

Chief Olabode George was a staunch supporter of Jimi Agbaje during the build up to 2015 Lagos PDP gubernatorial primary election at the detriment of the former minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro

A competent party source confided yesterday that the choice of Agbaje as chairman has received the approval of key party organs and stakeholders in virtually all the six geo-political zones, The Nation Newspaper reports this morning

The source, who craved anonymity because he is not mandated to divulge the information, said the South-East zone is the most favourably disposed to having the former governorship candidate lead the party.

The decision to settle for Agbaje was said to have emerged from well thought out permutations on various elective positions ahead of the 2019 general elections.

For instance, the party has zoned its 2019 presidential ticket to the North, which automatically disqualifies any chairmanship candidate from the region.

Similarly, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, is being primed for the vice president ticket.

The party’s immediate past Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, is also said to be in reckoning to retain the position, with the backing of the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

Power brokers in the PDP were said to have picked Agbaje after extensive deliberations in the past weeks.

He was said to have received more vocal approval than several others considered for the job.

The party leaders were said to have mapped out a strategy to ensure that they are not openly seen to be working for Agbaje’s emergence.

Our source said the former governorship candidate will be made to seek the party’s nomination alongside others with all aspirants treated equally.

“But plans are afoot for massive mobilisation of delegates in the six geo-political zones for Agbaje’s candidature at the upcoming convention to ensure his emergence.

“His backers have decided not to persuade other aspirants to step down, in order to avoid recriminations that could ignite fresh crisis in the party,” the source added.

In the South-West, it was gathered according to Punch Newspaper that both Chief Bode George and Prof. Tunde Adeniran have shown interest in the race.

George, a former military administrator of Ondo State, was also a former deputy national chairman of the party.

He is from Lagos State.

Adeniran, who once attempted to become the national secretary of the party, was a former minister of education.

He hails from Ekiti State.

Both men were said to have divided the party from the zone.

While some believed that Adeniran does not have a faction in the party from the zone, others say he has no experience in party management.

George who has experience in management of political party, is also being accused of belonging to a faction of the party in his home state.

A former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, however told our correspondent that members of the party in the zone would be working for George.

He said that a delegation from the South-West would be meeting with the national caretaker committee in Abuja soon to inform them about their support for George’s ambition.

Babatope also said that it would be wrong for the South-South to want to field a candidate for the position of the national chairman when it just produced the president.

He said, “We are fielding George for the race and we are visiting members of the national caretaker committee on Friday to openly say this.

“It will not be good for the South-South to still show interest in the race when the zone has just produced the president of the country from our party.”

It was however gathered that Adeniran has started sending text messages to his supporters to express his interest in the race.

George, in an interview with our correspondent, confirmed his interest in the race.

He said having served the party at various levels since 1998, he was prepared to lead it out of its present crisis.

He said, “In terms of experience and political exposure, I’m capable of leading the party and I’m ready to submit myself for election. The party is in an interim stormy water and it needs an experienced captain to take it to the harbour. Don’t forget that I’m also a permanent member of the Board of Trustees of the party.

“But we are waiting for the zoning committee to finish its job before I fully commence my campaign. Already, we are reaching out to all zones on the need to support the South-West to lead the party.

“This is because, we have never be given the opportunity of leading the party for the last 17 years.”

  It is however not clear who among the candidates from the South-West will have the support of the two governors.

During the last botched convention, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State rooted for Sheriff before the two of them fell apart due to politics.

The party yesterday inaugurated an 83-member zoning committee charged with the responsibility of deciding the zones that will take the available positions at the national level.

The committee is chaired by the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Dave Umahi, with his Gombe State counterpart, Ibrahim Dankwabo, as deputy and former Benue  State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, as secretary.

The committee also has notable party chieftains across the six geo-political zones as members.

It is expected to submit its report within seven days, after which the sale of nomination forms will commence for the convention billed to hold in Port Harcourt on August 17.

Caretaker committee chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, charged the zoning committee to be fair and just in its assignment.

He advised that positions should not be restricted to only one state in a zone but thrown open to aspirants in all the states in the various zones.

Makarfi decried the previous arrangement under the leadership of Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, which led to the May 21 botched convention.

According to him, only one nomination form was made available for each position, including the chairmanship.

Also addressing newsmen shortly after the inauguration ceremony, the spokesman for the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said no member of the committee will be contesting any of the available positions.

Adeyeye said the window of reconciliation with the Sheriff group remained open, but added that the condition given by the group that the caretaker committee be dissolved is untenable.

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Aide Who Helped Obanikoro Laundered $1.25m Raw Cash Arrested

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday grilled a former aide to Obanikoro as part of investigations into the N4.7bn the former minister allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of the embattled former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Obanikoro was alleged to have received the N4.7bn through the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by his two sons – Babajide and Gbolahan.

A source at the anti-graft agency said after Obanikoro allegedly handed over N1.219bn to Fayose and N1.3bn to Omisore, he directed that about N759,384,300 be transferred into the accounts of about six bureau de change operators, Punch Newspaper reports

The two bureau de change operators that received the bulk of the funds were A. A. G. B. S. Oil and Gas and North Line Limited.

While A. A. G. B. S. received N168m on June 16, 2014, North Line Limited received N835, 000 on July 14; received N83,750,000 on June 17; N1,680,000 on September 3, 2014; about N2,325,300 on September 9; N5,932,500 on September 17 and N842,500 on July 30.

The source in the EFCC added, “We interrogated one of the aides to Obanikoro. He was also the one who arranged for payments of $25,200 to Gyro Air, which flew Obanikoro along with the N1.219bn to Akure, after which the N1.219bn was handed over to Agbele.

“This same aide visited a bureau de change operator and collected over $1m on behalf of Obanikoro and handed it over to the minister in some bags. The aide cooperated with us, wrote his statement and has been granted bail.”

In a related development, Still Earth Limited, which reportedly sold four duplexes in Lagos State to Fayose, has denied allegations that it helped the governor to launder stolen money.

The company said it had constructed over 45 kilometres of road in the country and handled several building projects.

It explained that De-Privateer Limited, a company owned by Agbele, approached Still Earth Limited and bought four chalets from the firm via payment to her corporate accounts with First Bank of Nigeria (1000070240) and Zenith Bank (1014016919) accordingly.

The firm said it never collected cash from Fayose or Agbele, adding that it even rejected a N5bn contract from the Ekiti State Government in lieu of the agency fees on the four duplexes in Lagos.

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Even Obanikoro's Daughter Got Own N800m Share Of GEJ 'Free Naira Bazaar'; Grilled By FCC, Passport Seized

Photo Credit: Facebook

The investigation into the N4.7bn allegedly paid into the company account of Obanikoro’s sons – Babajide and Gbolahan – by the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has been extended to Shalewa Obanikoro, the daughter of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, as a questionable N800 million has been traced to her account.

On Friday,  the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission quizzed Shalewa Obanikoro for several hours over a transaction of N800m she allegedly made Punch Newspaper says.

She was reportedly grilled alongside her mother, Moroopha Onikoro

It was learnt that part of investigations into the N4.7bn allegedly paid into the company account of Obanikoro’s sons – Babajide and Gbolahan – by the Office of the National Security Adviser, the commission started investigating some other members of the family, an impeccable EFCC source told Our Source.

The detective said, “Obanikoro’s wife came to our office on Friday morning as part of investigations into the N4.7bn paid into Sylvan McNamara, a company owned by her sons. During investigation, we stumbled on the account of an oil company. We then discovered that Obanikoro’s daughter was a signatory to the account of the oil company and that millions of naira was paid into the account at different times.

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“We then invited the daughter and she came to meet us at the office. During investigations, we found out that the daughter gave a standing order to the bank that N800m should be moved into another account. We wondered why such a young girl would have access to such funds so we started quizzing her.

“This is a whole new dimension to the case and we will continue to investigate to find out if it is related to the arms probe or not.”

Obanikoro and his sons, who are citizens of the United States, have remained in the US for over a year.

However, the EFCC swiftly seized the US passport of Shalewa to prevent her from towing the path of her father and brothers.

The investigator said, “We were told that she was planning on travelling to the US soon so we swiftly seized her passport because she is vital to our investigation. However, we told her to be coming from home.”

Apart from the N4.7bn arms scam rocking the Obanikoro family, it will be recalled that MOB Integrated Services Ltd, a company headed by Obanikoro’s second son, Gbolahan, was implicated by the Aigboje Imokhuede-led Presidential Committee on Verification and Reconciliation in 2012.

The company was said to have made three transactions valued at N5, 393, 592,906.62. However, investigations revealed that the company only made one transaction valued at N3, 261,263,992.52 verified as legitimate.

The difference of over N2bn was said to have been embezzled as MOB did not make the needed oil supply.

However, sources at the commission told our correspondent that after Obanikoro was appointed the Minister of State for Defence, the case was mysteriously suspended indefinitely.

The latest revelation may be the missing piece of the puzzle, detectives believe.

However, the former minister said in a statement that his wife had high blood pressure and other heart-related ailments and asked security agents not to drag her into the arms probe as she knew nothing about the case.

He said, “We are using this medium to call on the officials of the EFCC to desist from persecuting an innocent woman who has no dealings at all with any of the businesses that they are investigating and totally unaware of the alleged transactions.

“For emphasis, the innocent woman has a history of high blood pressure and heart-related ailments and as such should not be dragged into their biased and politicised investigations.”

Obanikoro also denied media reports that his wife was arrested with incriminating evidence.

Related News: N4.7b Ekiti Election Fraud: Obanikoro's Wife ARRESTED, Grilled; Sons 2 Houses SEIZED

Excerpts From Punch Newspaper

N4.7b Ekiti Election Fraud: Obanikoro's Wife ARRESTED, Grilled; Sons 2 Houses SEIZED

Alhaja Moroophat Onikoro, the wife of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who has been in the United States since June, 2015 has been arrested by the Department of State Services has arrested,in connection with the N4.7bn allegedly diverted from the Office of the National Security Adviser,  News Punch has learnt reliably

Morooophat was arrested in front of her husband’s house located on Layi Ajayi-Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday, Punch Newspaper confirms.

A DSS source according to Punch Newspaper said “We arrested Alhaja Onikoro this morning. Although she bears Onikoro, she is the wife of Obanikoro. She was arrested with some vital documents. She is currently in our office in Shangisha, Lagos, and will later be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for more investigation.”

It was learnt that after interrogation at the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday, she was allowed to go home on condition that she would return on Friday (today).

“We released her after interrogation. The woman cooperated fully with us and we allowed her to go because we don’t hold people hostage. We asked her questions and she answered respectfully,” a source in the EFCC stated.

EFCC had, last month, raided the ex-minister’s house and made away with some documents said to have linked Obanikoro to the N4.7bn allegedly siphoned from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The EFCC had also sealed a house belonging to Obanikoro’s two sons, Babajide and Gbolahan, on Banana Island.

Obanikoro’s wife, who was in the house at the time of the search, alleged that her rights were abused and had even sued the EFCC for N100m.

“When she sued the EFCC, she thought that would be the end of the matter. Unknown to her, we kept surveillance on the house and swiftly arrested her with the evidence we needed,” a source said.

EFCC investigations had revealed that N4.7bn was paid into a bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company in which Obanikoro’s two sons are said to be directors.

About N1.219bn was allegedly flown to Akure on a private plane during the build-up to the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election, which was won by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Fayose was alleged to have received the N1.219bn through his bosom friend, Abiodun Agbele, while the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, allegedly received N1.310bn through company accounts said to belong to him.

Omisore had since been arrested by the EFCC and is reported to be cooperating with detectives.

Obanikoro, who has been in the United States with his two sons for over 15 months, denied the allegations, insisting that the EFCC was concocting evidence against him and his family.

He had also dared the commission to extradite him if it had evidence against him.

The EFCC, however, said it was in possession of a CCTV footage which captured Obanikoro and three others loading the billions of naira unto a plane at the Lagos airport in 2014.

“Let Obanikoro keep making noise in the US instead of him to be a man and come and defend himself like others. He has finished his academic programme in the US since April but has refused to return to Nigeria because he knows he is guilty.

“Obanikoro has put his family in trouble by using his sons to launder money. In this age of BVN (Bank Verification Number), it is difficult to get away with bank fraud,” a reliable source said.

Meanwhile, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, will today hear a N500m suit filed by Abiodun Agbele, an ally of Fayose, seeking an order releasing him from the custody of the EFCC.

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Agbele was reportedly arrested on June 27 for his role in the handling of over N1.219bn on behalf of Fayose during the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014.

The money was said to have been part of the N4.7bn that was siphoned from the imprest account of the ONSA and deposited in the company accounts of Obanikoro’s sons.

In the suit filed on his behalf by his lawyers – Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo –Agbele urged the court to declare his arrest and detention as unlawful and award N500m as compensatory damages against the EFCC for his unlawful arrest and detention.

Agbele argued, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, that his arrest and continued detention beyond the 48 hours allowed by the Constitution, amounted to a  violation of his rights to freedom of liberty, human dignity and the right to acquire and own properties.

He said unless and except the court came to his rescue, the EFCC would continue to infringe on his rights to freedom of liberty.

At the hearing of the case on Thursday, EFCC’s counsel, Raymond Ezekiel, urged the court to adjourn hearing in the suit till Friday to enable him to file his counter-affidavit to the suit.

Ezekiel said the case file was only handed over to him on Wednesday, and as such, needed time to respond to the constitutional issues raised by the applicant in the suit.

Ozekhome had opposed an adjournment, arguing that the suit, being a fundamental rights enforcement suit, required prompt hearing.

But he later agreed that the respondent’s counsel be allowed time to respond.

Justice Adeniyi subsequently fixed Friday for hearing in the suit.