Ex-Minister throws Governor under a bus, Popcorns are in order

Musiliu Obanikoro, former Minister of State for Defence, who turned himself in to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) upon his arrival from the United States, has thrown Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose under the bus in spectacular fashion.

Obanikoro admitted to the anti-graft agency that he handed over N2.3bn to Fayose in the run-up to the Ekiti Governorship election.

The money, investigators have since established, was meant to aid the PDP in rigging the election in Fayose’s favour.

Fayose and Obanikoro were caught on tape barking rigging instructions into the ears of an Army Officer, just days before the elections.

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Fayose would go on to win that election by a ‘landslide’, sending the incumbent—a genially sophisticated Kayode Fayemi—packing.

According to a Punch account of the development, Obanikoro told his interrogators that the money was transferred to Fayose on the orders of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, (retd.).

Dasuki is still being held by the Nigerian authorities for alleged diversion of $2.1bn meant for the procurement of arms.

EFCC sources have told Pulse how Obanikoro narrated that the money was transferred to Fayose in two tranches. One tranche of N1.3bn was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights.

Diamond Bank would later deliver the money to Fayose in Ekiti, in bullion vans.

Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose, took delivery of the money on the Governor’s behalf, according to Obanikoro.

Investigators have also established that Sylva Mcnamara, a company run by Obanikoro’s sons, was used as front to launder N4.745bn. The money came from Dasuki’s now famous $2.1bn, investigators say.

Dasuki was quite the Father Christmas around this period, it appears.

ALSO READ: Ex-minister reportedly says Fayose got $5.377M cash

This story further underscores the mindless looting that went on under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Fayose has a thing for releasing press statements every other hour. He’s however not uttered a word in anger since this story broke, some 12 hours ago.

This is hoping he breaks his silence soon.

Law enforcement sources have told Pulse in the past that Fayose has to thank the immunity clause in the constitution for why he’s still walking the streets of Ekiti a free man.

“We’ll pick him up as soon as he hands over and I’m sure he knows that”, one EFCC operative told Pulse recently.

For Obanikoro however, may the singing never stop. Nigerians deserve to know how they were looted dry.

As for Fayose, the next press statement from his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, should be one to look out for.