Alleged N2.2bn Fraud: ‘It’s Painful Giving Evidence Against Ayo Fayose” – Musiliu Obanikoro

Alleged N2.2bn Fraud: ‘It’s Painful Giving Evidence Against Ayo Fayose” – Musiliu Obanikoro

The ongoing trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose,
over an alleged N2.2 billion fraud charge preferred against him by
EFCC continued on February 4, 2019, with a prosecution witness, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, telling Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos that It is painful giving evidence against Fayose.

Fayose was arraigned along with his company, Spotless Investment
Limited, on October 22, 2018, on an 11-count charge bordering on fraud
and money laundering to the tune of over N2.2 billion. He is facing
trial in connection with the sums of N1.299 billion and $5.3 million out
of the N4.65 billion slush funds allegedly shared by the Office of the
National Security Adviser, ONSA, under then NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki
(retd).

Obanikoro, under cross-examination by counsel for the second
defendant, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, said he was testifying against Fayose
“reluctantly”, adding that they enjoyed a good relationship while they
were both members of PDP.

He said: “I am giving this evidence reluctantly. It’s very painful
for me to give evidence against him.” He, however, told the court that
despite testifying against Fayose, he would not want their relationship
destroyed. “I am trying to restrain myself from saying things that will
further damage our relationship,” he added.

When asked if he knew the source of the money he was giving to
Fayose, he answered in the negative, saying, “I did not know the source
of this money because the NSA did not tell me.”

At the last proceeding, Obanikoro had narrated how he gave Fayose $5
million in cash from the imprest account of ONSA. While being
cross-examined by counsel for the first defendant, Kanu Agabi, SAN,
testifying as the fifth prosecution said he was in the custody of the
EFCC when he made his first statement. When asked if he was a suspect
under investigation when he made his statement, he answered in the
affirmative, adding that “I spent 21 days in the EFCC custody”.

“I made my statement in respect of what transpired then, I said the
truth and nothing but the truth,” he added. He, however, said he could
not recall the number of statements he made to the EFCC. Justice
Olatoregun adjourned the case to February 5, 2019, for continuation of
cross- examination.