gate for bullion van •$25,000 paid for the two flights to Akure •Money was
withdrawn from bank but no records of transaction
Obanikoro allegedly loaded a chartered aircraft with N1, 299, 490b for transfer
to Governor Ayodele Fayose through an associate, Abiodun Agbele has been
revealed.
The cash was transferred through HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air
Limited.
The first flight was filled with N724.5million cash to the extent that there
was no seat for any crew member or the ex-Minister.
It was during the second flight with N494.990m that Obanikoro, his
Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale, and crew member joined the trip
to Akure Airport.
Records indicated yesterday that for each of the trip, Obanikoro paid
$12,500 making a total of $25,000.
The EFCC has retrieved the footage details of Obanikoro’s movement at the
airport and the flight schedule of the aircraft.
According to fresh evidence obtained by the EFCC, the ex-Minister had defied
security gate at the airport in Lagos to move a bullion van to the apron of the
chartered wing to off-load the cash.
Although the security men at the airport resisted the use of the security
gate, the ex-Minister ordered soldiers to break all barriers for the bullion
van to get to the apron.
A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Contrary to his attacks
on EFCC, we have retrieved the footage and details of how he ordered soldiers
to break the barriers at the reserved security gate at Lagos Airport for a
bullion van to go to the apron of the chartered service wing.
“He defied security men at the airport and refused to subject the bullion
van to any screening contrary to aviation rules. In fact, apart from financial
crimes, the ex-Minister, and his accomplices have outstanding allegations
against them for violating aviation safety rules or regulations.
“The aircraft made two shuttles to Akure Airport on June 17, 2014. Our investigation
revealed that during the first flight, about N724.5million was offloaded from
the bullion into the aircraft. The cash occupied all the space to the extent
that there was nowhere to sit by the crew and the ex-Minister.
“But when the balance of N494.990m was loaded into the aircraft for the
second trip, Obanikoro, his ADC, one highly-placed person from the South-West,
and the crew were able to make the trip.
“Let him continue to make noise in the United States instead of coming home
to clear his name. We have interacted with the aviation staff on the ground on
the said date. We have identified the owner of the aircraft to be a
member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.”
Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that the ex-Minister paid $25,000
for the two flights to Akure at $12,500 each.
Another source confirmed that the aircraft belonged a member of the sacked
management of Skye Bank Plc.
“We have evidence of the payment of $25,000 to Gyro Air Limited for the two
flights to Akure. And Zenith Bank confirmed how Fayose’s associate, Agbele,
brought the cash into its branch in Akure to keep as sundry funds.”
Responding to a question, the source said: “From our findings, the Minister
and Fayose fought over N80million missing from the total cash.
“They had a shouting match until reasons prevailed between the two
politicians on the whereabouts of the N80million.”
An Investigating Officer of the EFCC, Tosin Owobo during the week opened up
at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti on how the N1, 299,490,000.00 was
wired into Governor Ayodele Fayose’s accounts by one of his associates, Abiodun
Agbele.
Owobo, who swore to an affidavit, said: “That the total sum of N 1,
219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and
ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro
through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging
to Gyro Air Limited.”
“That on the 17th day of June 2014, Mr. Alade Oluseye in the company of one
Abiodun Agbele a front of the Applicant (Fayose), went to the Akure Airport
wherein they took cash delivery of the sum of N724,500,000.00 from Senator
Musiliu Obanikoro and his acclaimed Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Colonel A.O
Adewale.
“That on the 18th day of June 2014, another sum of N494, 990,000 was also
delivered to Mr. Alade Oluseye by the said Minister in the same manner.
“ That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and
nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure
Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No:
HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”