Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence appeared before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos yesterday, to testify against former Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who is currently facing a N6.9 billion fraud charge.
Fayose was charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on an 11 count charge to which the ex Governor pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
Obanikoro, admitted the fact that some funds were passed to Mr Fayose from Col. Sambo Dasuki, the National Security adviser but Obanikoro quickly declared that he knew not the source of the fund as it could be from the Impress account of the NSA which is mostly used for security purposes.
At the court yesterday, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, appeared for the EFCC, while Messrs Kanu Agabi, SAN and Olalekan Ojo, SAN, appeared for the first and second accused respectively.
When Obanikoro was called and quizzed about his knowledge about the case, he revealed saying ” in June 2014, close to the Ekiti State governorship election, I received a call from the accused, enquiring from me if there was any message for him, from the then NSA, Col. Dasuki”. In his own defence he quickly said it is only the NSA that can tell the source of the money.
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro was further asked about the method used in debiting such an amount, he answered saying he said gave instructions to the Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, but he was not available when the deductions were made. Obanikoro says the accounts from which the money was used for security purposes, adding that he does not wish to divulge further evidences on that.
The defence on hearing this sought for an adjournment to enable it cross examine the witness. The court then granted an adjournment until Feb. 4, 5 and 6 for cross examination
