After detaining Misiliu Obanikoro for 21 days, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cleared him of any involvement in an alleged financial crime involving the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, according to the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday.
In his testimony during the EFCC’s ongoing trial of Fayose for an alleged N4.6 billion fraud, Obanikoro made the assertion.
He said that the National Security Adviser’s office budgeted N2.2 billion for the 2014 election of Fayose as governor of Ekiti State (NSA).
The witness, who was called in by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), claimed that the money originated from the NSA’s bank account and was transferred to a company called Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited.
“I was invited by the EFCC in 2016 and I arrived from the United States of America, but even though there is a presumption of innocence in law when an allegation like this emerges, I was imprisoned for 21 days,” he claimed.
Yes, the National Security Adviser’s office did write a letter of protest, but I think it was made in error since after all the investigations, common reason won out and I was cleared.
The witness disassociated himself from the operation of Silver Maclamaran, the business account that was used to store the N2.2 billion, during cross-examination by Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN).
Olalekan also questioned him over his knowledge of a committee established to raise money for the 2014 election for governor of Ekiti State.
Obanikoro responded, “Yes, I was the Committee chairman and a lot of money was provided even up to the national level of our party.
He responded, “I can remember T. K. Aluko and Lateef Agbaje,” when asked if he could recall the names of any fund-raising committee members.
He denied being a signatory to the accounts of Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited, which was the recipient of the money from the NSA office, and stated that Olalekan Olalere was the firm’s signatory.
Further trial was postponed to March 20 and 21 by Justice Aneke.
The accusation states that on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Abiodun Agbele unlawfully obtained N1.2 billion to support his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti.
Additionally, it is claimed that Fayose received a cash payment from Obanikoro in the amount of $ 5 million (or roughly N1.8 billion) directly.
Additionally, he is accused of illegally keeping N300 million in a bank account and N622 million in his possession.
After a 21-day remand, the EFCC absolved me of the alleged N4.6 billion fraud – Obanikoro
After detaining Misiliu Obanikoro for 21 days, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cleared him of any involvement in an alleged financial crime involving the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, according to the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday.
In his testimony during the EFCC’s ongoing trial of Fayose for an alleged N4.6 billion fraud, Obanikoro made the assertion.
He said that the National Security Adviser’s office budgeted N2.2 billion for the 2014 election of Fayose as governor of Ekiti State (NSA).
