Ex-minister to testify against Fayose over alleged N4.7b fraud

chika ebuzor

November 29, 2016 4:16 AM

Obanikoro was at the EFCC Abuja office on Monday, November 28, 2016, and agreed to give testimony in court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that the former Minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro will testify against Governor Ayo Fayose in the N4.7b fraud case.

According to Punch, a source in the anti-graft agency, Obanikoro was at their Abuja office on Monday, November 28, 2016, and agreed to give testimony in court.

The source said “Senator Obanikoro came to the EFCC office on Monday morning as part of investigations into the N4.7bn. Since he has confessed that he was the one who collected the N4.7bn and distributed it, he is in the best position to testify in court.

“The EFCC wants him to testify against Agbele which will also build a strong case against Fayose who currently enjoys immunity. Obanikoro has agreed and will be listed as one of the EFCC witnesses.

“If Agbele is convicted, it automatically means that Fayose will also be convicted once he is charged in 2018. So let Fayose continue to play games. Omisore and Obanikoro are cooperating and returning money. Their troubles will end soon while Fayose’s own will keep getting worse.”

Adding that “Obanikoro has returned N104m and has pledged to return N480m in instalments every four months but if he cannot cooperate with the EFCC, then he and his sons may be charged along with the others.

“Plea bargain and negotiation are a standard practice in criminal justice across the world.”

The EFCC source also said the former minister can still be prosecuted if he refuses to cooperate.

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However, Obanikoro’s lawyer, James Onoja (SAN), denied knowledge of his client’s deal with the anti-graft agency, saying “I have been in court all day so I was not aware that he (Obanikoro) was with the EFCC. I will find out.”

According to reports, Musiliu Obanikoro recently confessed to the EFCCthat he handed over $5,377,000 cash to the Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose.

chika ebuzor