I Gave Fayose N2.23bn – Obanikoro

The sum was part of the N4.745billion arms deal fund given to him by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The former minister further disclosed that $5,377,000 was given to Fayose in cash, while N1.3billion was received by the governor’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.

He said that the said cash was wired into the company, Sylva Mcnamara within seven months in 2014.

This revelation follows interrogations by operatives of the anti-graft commission, who continued grilling him in Abuja on Tuesday.

Obanikoro arrived Abuja few days ago, to answer questions regarding N4.75bn arms funds traced to him. The EFCC is claiming with documentary proof that the money was paid into the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan McNamara during the period.

Obanikoro, however, said he is not the owner of Sylva Mcnamara that was used to transfer the funds to Fayose.

A source told the The Nation that “the sum of N2.2billion was transferred to Sylva Mcnamara for onward transfer to Mr. Ayodele Fayose on the instruction of the NSA.

“The sum of N1.3billion cash was brought in a bullion van by Diamond Bank on the instruction of the NSA.

“In addition, the sum of N60million was converted to dollars at the rate of N168 per dollar and altogether the sum of $5,377,000 was handed over in cash by me to Mr. Fayose while the N1.3billion was received by Mr. Fayose’s associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele in the presence of my Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lt. Adewale who also accompanied them to the bank along with the bank officials.

“I didn’t interact with the bank officials. I called Fayose before the funds were handed over to Mr. Abiodun Agbele. I spoke to Fayose with my phone at Akure airport.”

Obanikoro said he “took off with the first flight with part of the money while the second flight brought the remaining funds to Akure local airport and I directed that it should be handed over to the same person.”

The source added: “He told us that he is “not the owner of the company in question but introduced the owner, Mr. Kareem Taiwo to the NSA, Mr. Sambo Dasuki when the threat of Boko Haram became more visible in Lagos.

“He said the government wanted to incorporate local input into the intelligence gathering and prevention of terrorist attack on Lagos and the South-West in general.”