FORMER Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, yesterday, narrated before a Federal High Court in Lagos State how N1.2 billion was allegedly taken to former Gov Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, using an aircraft.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged fraud and money laundering.
He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd on 11 counts.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
The defendant was, however, re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun following EFCC’s petition.
Fayose also pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was allowed to continue on the bail earlier granted.
The EFCC has since opened its case before Justice Aneke and is still leading witnesses in evidence.
In December 2021, the commission called its 11th witness, one Mrs Joanne Tolulope, who narrated how one Abiodun Agbele, said to be an associate of Fayose, allegedly bought property worth millions of Naira for the defendants.
When the case was called on Tuesday, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) announced appearance for EFCC.
Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) announced appearances for the first and second defendants, respectively.
Olanipekun then called on the 12th prosecution witness, Obanikoro, to testify.
Obanikoro told the court that when he was the Minister of State for Defence, he operated a company known as Sivan Mcmera which was later utilised for purposes of security operations in Lagos.
He told the court that it was aimed at shutting out terrorists’ activities from the state, following intelligence reports.
He, however, said that before he became a minister, the said company was operated by his son.
