Another shocking revelation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has linked the former junior Minister for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro, who is currently hiding abroad, with the infamous Ekitigate election scandal of June 2014 and the related plot to rig the Osun State gubernatorial election. According SaharaReporters, the commission obtained financial transaction information and witness testimonies connecting Mr. Obanikoro with a group of companies which received at least N1.45 billion to rig the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections last year.
It was revealed that N1.45 billion was pumped into the accounts of five companies under the control of Mr. Obanikoro. The evidence of these transactions emerged from EFCC interrogations of ten suspects connected with the $2.1 billion arms scandal involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Sambo Dasuki.
The Nation newspaper reported last week that it was told by a source that massive amounts of money were moved from the Federal Government to an “ex-Minister” to rig the Ekiti and Osun State governor contests. SaharaReporters has confirmed that the former minister in reference is Mr. Obanikoro.
The Nation newspaper reported last week that it was told by a source that massive amounts of money were moved from the Federal Government to an “ex-Minister” to rig the Ekiti and Osun State governor contests. SaharaReporters has confirmed that the former minister in reference is Mr. Obanikoro.
Mr. Obanikoro is currently believed to be hiding in the United States. Sources speaking with a SaharaReporters correspondent disclosed that agents of the Department of State Security recently intercepted several calls between a panicky Mr. Obanikoro and the former Senate President, David Mark, in which the former Minister pleaded for assistance from Mr. Mark regarding his forthcoming legal problems.
The same sources said that Mr. Obanikoro fears extradition if he remains where he is hiding and is therefore trying to “eliminate” the prospects of legal proceedings against him in Nigeria.
All efforts made by Mr. Obanikoro to stop the EFCC from investigating the case from his abode in the United States have reportedly failed woefully.
Reports say investigations have revealed that "the companies controlled by Mr. Obanikoro which received the deposits included: Stellavera Dev Company (N300m), First Aralac Global Limited (N300m), First Aralac Global Limited (N100m), Damaris Mode (N300m), Stellavera Dev Company (N200m), and Whese Farms Ltd (N250m)."
The funds were used either to influence the elections in Ekiti and Osun States or simply laundered, or were earmarked for the 2015 presidential elections.
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