Obanikoro to Serve as EFCC Witness Against Fayose

Pat Stevens/

Former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, who is currently undergoing interrogation at the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has revealed that the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has agreed to serve as the commission’s witness against him in court.

The former governor has consequently challenged the EFCC to promptly charge him to court, instead of wasting time hounding him into “accepting what he knows nothing about”.

Fayose made the claim today in a post on his Twitter handle, @GovAyoFayose, currently being handled by his media aide, Lere Olayinka.

The post reads: “@officialEFCC claims that @MObanikoro has agreed to act as a state witness in their allegation against @GovAyoFayose . There’s no need to waste time. Simply charge the man to court and stop hoping you can hound him into accepting what he knows nothing about #FayoseIsNotAfraid.”

During interrogation by the EFCC, Fayose was reportedly asked to write a statement explaining how he spent N1.3 billion he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser through Obanikoro, during the build-up to the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Reports say the commission also asked him to return the money.

The former governor reportedly said in his statement on oath that he never received any money despite the overwhelming evidence.

The funds allegedly traced to Fayose were said to be part of the N4.7 billion allegedly handed to Obanikoro by the then National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

While about N1.3 billion was given to Fayose, another N1.3 billion was also handed over to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State in 2014, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

The funds were said to have been transported from Lagos to Ekiti State by air.

Since the investigation began in 2015, the EFCC has interrogated over 20 persons.

Apart from Obanikoro and Omisore, others interrogated by the EFCC include Captain Ahmed Borodo, the pilot whose plane was allegedly chartered by Obanikoro; Aide-de-Camp to Obanikoro, Lt. Olumide Adewale; and Fayose’s aide, Abiodun Agbele (who is standing trial for allegedly receiving the funds on behalf of Fayose).

Others interrogated include bureau de change operators and senior bank executives.

However, Fayose’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the former governor would not compromise himself in the name of administrative bail.

Ozekhome said Fayose’s accounts had already been frozen by the commission and was already in court over the matter.

On whether Fayose would return the money as demanded by the EFCC, Ozekhome said, “Which money are they saying he should return? Has he said any money is with him? They won’t dare tell him to return the money.

“Fayose is not like other Nigerians that the EFCC will bamboozle and force and blackmail to make refunds. Why tell a man to refund the money he has not admitted to receiving when the matter is in court?

“If they offer him an administrative bail with no strings attached, which is not a Greek gift, then he should take it.”

Fayose had arrived the EFCC office around 1pm yesterday wearing a blue shirt with the inscription, ‘EFCC, I am here’, and a blue pair of trousers with a blue face-cap to match.

The former governor, who clutched a backpack and a small duffel bag, was accompanied by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), and several of his aides and supporters.

Addressing reporters before making his way into the EFCC, Fayose said: “I am here in line with my promise that I will be here on the October 16.

“And, as I said to the EFCC, they should await my arrival. This morning, they have been to my house; they cordoned off my street, which I feel was unnecessary. It was unwarranted.

“When a man says he is coming, Nigerians should be given benefit of the doubt.

“I had led Ekiti, and the best I could give, I have given. Therefore, every question, whatever they need to ask today, I will be able to respond appropriately.”

Also speaking, Governor Wike said he accompanied Fayose in order to warn the EFCC to respect his rights.

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