- The EFCC is focusing on a separate fraud case against Musiliu Obanikoro which involves billions of naira
- A source in the EFCC says the sum under investigation was allegedly received by Obanikoro for his failed governorship election bid
Obanikoro recently struck a plea bargain deal with the EFCC which will see him testify against Fayose.
Former minister of state for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro has gotten in fresh trouble after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found out that the ex-minister had received previously undisclosed billions of naira which he used in pursuit of his governorship ambition.
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Obanikoro has been under investigation by the anti-graft agency for allegedly disbursing the sum of N4.7 billion which the former minister had received in order to help Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state win the Ekiti governorship election in 2014.
The former minister recently stuck a deal with the EFCC to testify against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state and his aide, Mr. Abiodun Agbele in a case of alleged N4.7bn fraud.
However, a source in the anti-graft agency has told Sahara Reporters that investigators were now focusing on a separate fraud case that was recently uncovered, which involves billions of naira.
The source said the sum under investigation was allegedly received by Obanikoro for his futile run for the governorship of Lagos state in 2014/2015.
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The funds were allegedly given to the former minister from a slush funds managed by the national security adviser. The same slush funds were used to fund the controversial election in Ekiti State.
Obanikoro lost in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) primary to Jimi Agbaje in 2014, shortly after his defeat, he was offered a ministerial position by President Goodluck Jonathan for the remainder of his tenure.
Meanwhile, the former minister has made useful statement to the EFCC which has been investigating how funds were allegedly transferred from the office of the national security adviser (NSA) under the leadership of Sambo Dasuki in June 2014 during the build-up to the Ekiti governorship election which Fayose won.
The ex-minister told the EFCC that he handed N1.3bn to the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state, Senator Iyiola Omisore; while N1.219bn was given to Fayose through his aide, Agbele.
Obanikoro was said to have converted a remainder of the money into $5.377m and handed it to Fayose at Spotless Hotel, Ado Ekiti, in the presence of the then Ekiti state PDP secretary, Tope Aluko, and other party stalwarts.
