Dasuki Gate, Ekiti Gate: Two sons of ex-minister Obanikoro on EFCC radar (photos)
30th Jan. 2016
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is keeping a close eye on two sons of Musiliu Obanikoro, the former Minister of State for Defense, over an alleged massive amount of monies transferred to their accounts from funds budgeted for the procurement of weapons and other equipment for the country’s military, Sahara Reporters reports.
According to a source who spoke to the media outfit, the EFCC had traced N4.745 billion to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara Limited, a company in which the former minister’s two sons, Ibrahim Babajide and Gbolahan Olatunde Obanikoro, have major interest.
It was gathered that the alleged funds were paid in batches into the company’s account number 0026223714 with Diamond Bank.
The source citing some instance alleged that on June 5, 2014, N200 million was transferred into the account of the firm owned by Obanikoro’s two sons. While on June 16, 2014, N2 billion was transferred into the account from the CBN account maintained by the Office of the National Security Adviser. On July 7, 2014, the sum of N700 million, landed in the Obanikoro-affiliated account, while on July 30, 2014, N1 billion was credited to the firm’s account. Other transfers included N160 million on August 8, 2014, N225 million on August 22, 2014, N200 million on November 14, 2014, and N200 million on December 5, 2014.
More statements from the source show that the funds were paid from an account maintained by Office of the National Security Adviser at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and all the transfers were made between June and December 2014.
Coincidentally, the period in which the transfers were made into the bank account of Sylvan McNamara Limited, falls under the same likewise when the preparations and the conduct of the Ekiti state governorship election, won by Governor Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party was in full gear. At such, hints that some of the cash was routed to Fayose’s campaign have been muttered.
According to the source, both sons of Obanikoro, Gbolahan and Babajide were listed as directors of the company earlier incorporated in 2011 by Ikenna Ezekwe, Idowu Oshodi and Elizabeth Adebiyi. They were also announced as signatories to the company’s account until 2014 when one Olalekan Ogunseye was made sole signatory.
Pix: Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro
It was gathered that the former Defence minister Obanikoro, is currently a resident in the US where he is reportedly registered as a student of history at Oglethorpe University in Georgia, USA. While one of his two sons linked with the massive fraud resides in Suwanee, Gwinnett County in the state of Georgia where they own real estate purchased in August 2014.
Pix: Ibrahim Gbolahon Obanikoro
Afrogalleria recalls that the office of the National Security Adviser has invited 241 companies and organizations in relation with receipt of payments from the agency during the tenure of Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel.
Dasuki is currently being prosecuted for allegedly distributing over $2.1billion meant for arms procurement to relatives, friends, political associates and campaign officials of the Peoples Democratic Party and likewise top security officials.
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