EFCC documents show how Fayose received N1.2bn from Dasuki

 

 Ayodele Fayose

It is beginning to come to light why the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, decided to freeze the personal account of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

According to documents released by the agency,  EFCC detectives traced about N4.745billion of the diverted $2. 1billion arms cash to a former Minister of State (Defence),  Musiliu Obanikoro and Fayose.

According to the EFCC, the money was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under ex-NSA, Sambo Dasuki (retd.) before the conduct of the June 21, 2014 Ekiti State governorship election.

Aside Obanikoro and Fayose, also linked with the sharing of the funds are Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (Alias Abbey), Mrs. Helen Olayemi Fayose, Obanikoro’s sons, Gbolahan and Babajide,  Ikenna Ezekwe, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited (a company allegedly  run by the Obanikoros); Spotless Hotel, owned by Fayose and De Privateer Limited, which is owned by  Agbele.

According to the EFCC document, the breakdown of the disbursement shows that N759, 384, 300 was changed into dollars through bureaux de change, N160million spent on cars through Balmoral International Limited, N1, 219, 490,000 was flown by Obanikoro in two flights to a branch of Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure to evacuate the cash and received by Fayose’s associate, Abiodun While the balance of about N2billion was withdrawn by Obanikoro and his two children in cash.

The document reads in part: “On June 12, 2014, the sum of N1, 219, 490,000 was flown from Lagos to Akure Airport by Musiliu  Obanikoro through a chartered plane (HS 125 jet) with a tail number N638MA. The plane belongs to Okin Travels which is a subsidiary of Elizade Motors. But the aircraft was then managed by OAS Helicopters for commercial/ chartered service.

“The ex-minister was accompanied by his military Aide-de-Camp who introduced himself as A.O. Adewale.

“The N1, 219, 490,000 was in two consignments but flown in the same aircraft twice in the morning and in the evening. From FAAN records, the first cash of N724, 500,000 arrived at Akure Airport at an estimated time of 9.38am and the second was at 17.57hours.

“A bullion van was brought by Zenith Bank to the tarmac at the airport in Akure to evacuate the cash to Zenith Bank at Plot 13, Alagbaka Estate, Akure.
“Obanikoro handed over the funds to Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele (alias Abbey). This Abiodun in company with the bank officials moved the money to Zenith Bank in Akure.”

The EFCC document also gave details of how the N1, 219, 490,000 was shared to Fayose and others by Agbele.

“The N1, 219, 490,000 was not deposited in any account but it was kept in a vault in the bank. It took the bank officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it was counted.

“Shortly after confirming the figure, Abiodun was used to coordinate the disbursement of the funds. On June 26, 2014, the wanted associate (Abiodun Agbele) paid N137million into Ayodele Fayose’s account 10003126654 with Zenith Bank through Teller-0556814. Fayose’s BVN on the teller is 22338867502. On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account. By the records from the bank, Abiodun paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s account on 27/8/14.

“Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street, Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502.

“After that, Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless Hotel Account run by Fayose and  Helen Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and Helen’s BVN in the account is 22298990256.

“The governor and Helen are the two directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account.”

The document also showed that De Privateer Limited (a company owned by Abiodun Agbele) with Account No. 1013835889 received N219, 490,000 on June 18, 2014.

“On June 19, 2014, the same account received N300million and another N200million on June 23, 2014. The BVN of the account is 22235692890″, the agency revealed.

Meanwhile, Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tuesday, said the freezing of the personal accounts of Ekiti State Governor by the EFCC, was a gross abuse of the constitution.

Speaking under the auspices of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Governors, through their Chairman, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the anti-graft agency to order.

Mimiko also said the action of the EFCC has portrayed the nation as one in crisis, insisting that the anti-graft agency cannot interfere with the account of a sitting governor. This he said is contrary to Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

Warning that the country is drifting towards totalitarianism, Mimiko insisted that the account of any individual could only be frozen after a court of competent jurisdiction has so ruled or an interim order by a court of competent jurisdiction is granted to the anti graft agency.