Obanikoro had earlier told the Court how N1.2 billion was allegedly taken to former Governor Fayose using an aircraft.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has revealed how the former minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, handed over the sum of N1,219,000,000 in cash to former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.
A former operative of the EFCC, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu Madaki made the revelation at the resumption of Fayose's trial at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos where the former governor and his firm, Spotless Investment Limited are being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged N6.9 billion fraud.
Obanikoro had earlier told the Court how N1.2 billion was allegedly taken to former Governor Fayose using an aircraft.
In continuation of his evidence on Friday, Madaki who is the 13th Prosecution Witness, told Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, that out of the money, Fayose bought property worth N270 million from one Rabiu Kundili, in Abuja and also deposited in a fixed account the sum of N100 million, Channels TV reports.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the former EFCC operative stated that between the June 17 and 27, 2014, a total sum of N150 million cash deposit was paid into the bank account of Spotless Investment Limited by one Biodun Agbele, an aide to Fayose.
The witness further told the court that on August 24, 2016, the sum of N168 million was also deposited into Spotless Investment Limited’s bank account.
He said that the money was released from the impress accounts in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and was part of monies under the control of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Madaki further told the court that the claim by the Fayose that the N1,219,000,000 received from Obanikoro was the campaign funds from his political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was investigated.
Madaki said "In our investigation, we contacted the People’s Democratic Party secretariat in Abuja. The party denied receiving any money from the National Security Adviser, or the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The party also said it did not give any campaign money to Senator Musiliu Obanikoro to give to the first defendant.
“So the funds moved from Diamond Bank to Zenith Bank were the funds that came from the impress account which is under the control of the office of the National Security Adviser to President Goodluck, Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki."
Speaking further, he told the court that opportunity was given to Fayose and his associate, Agbele to explain the source of money deposited into the account of Spotless Investment Limited but they could not give any reasonable explanation.
Justice Aneke thereafter adjourned the matter till November 24 for continuation of trial.
Recall that Fayose and his company were re-arraigned before Justice Aneke for alleged money laundering and non-declaration of his assets after an initial arraignment before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on October 22, 2018.
The EFCC, re-arraigned Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and stealing to the tune of N6.9bn ( Six Billion Nine Hundred Naira).
In the amended charge, Fayose and one Agbele, who is also standing trial on alleged money laundering offences before another division of the court, were alleged to have on June 17, 2014, taken possession of N1.219 billion to fund Fayose’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State.
They were accused of committing criminal breach of trust, theft and stealing of public funds.
They were also alleged to have on the same June 17, 2014, without going through financial institutions, received $5 million from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who was the Minister of State for Defence.
Fayose however pleaded not guilty to all the 11-count charges.