N1.2bn Arms Deal: Witness Gives Details of How N137m was paid into Fayose’s Accounts

Alex Enumah in Abuja
The First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Alade Sunday, in the ongoing trial of Biodun Agbele, an associate to the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday gave a detail account of how part of monies allegedly received from Office of the Former Security Adviser (ONSA) was paid into the account of Gov. Fayose in different installments.

 He gave the breakdown yesterday, at the resumed trial of Agbele at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
According to him, while the sum of N2.5M was paid into Governor Fayose’s account on June 11, 2014, another N90M was paid on June 23 2014.

 While responding to questions from Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, Counsel to Agbele, the witness disclosed further that another N1M was paid into Mr. Fayose’s account on June 2 while another N895, 315 was paid into the account on June 5, 2014.
Testifying further, Sunday said, “the money was pack in Ghana must go  and grey trampoline bags in two aircraft.

 “It took us about 45mins to off load the bags from the aircraft with the assistance of Oluolu Omotosho, and some security guards that followed Agbele whose name I cannot remember.
“After our discussion at the airport with the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and Agbele, one Adewale A.O who introduced himself as the ADC to Obanikoro accompanied us and insisted that the monies be counted.

 “It was after we counted the money that we deposited it into the various account numbers he gave us including that of Governor Fayose”.

 He said after specific amounts were paid into the various accounts, the 1st defendant then instructed that the balance of N263m be transported to Ado-Ekiti. He however maintained that he did not follow Olaolu to Ado Ekiti with the money.
At this point, trial judge, Justice Namdi Dimgba adjourned the matter till 25, 26, and 27 January for the continuation of trial.

 Agbele and three others are been prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11 count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.2billion, allegedly recieved from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

 The said sum was alleged to be part of the N4.7bn that was mysteriously transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by the son of former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

 Obanikoro allegedly took N1.2bn from the N4.7bn and flew it to Akure during the build-up to the governorship election in Ekiti State and handed the sum to Agbele for onward transfer to Fayose.
Others arraigned alongside Agbele are, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large).