Alleged N4.6bn fraud: EFCC cleared me after 21-day detention - Obanikoro

• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday heard the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) exonerated a former Minister of State for Defence Misiliu Obanikoro of complicity in an alleged financial crime involving former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, after detaining him for 21 days.

Obanikoro made the claim in his testimony in the EFCC's ongoing trial of Fayose for alleged N4.6 billion fraud.

According to him, the sum of N2.2 billion was budgeted for 2014, Ekiti State governorship election of Fayose from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness said the funds came from the NSA's impress account to a firm, Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited.

He said: 'I was invited by EFCC in 2016 and I came in from the United States of America but was incarcerated for 21 days, even when there is a presumption of innocence in law when an allegation like this arises.

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'Yes, a letter of complaint was written from the office of the National Security Adviser but I believe that it was written out of ignorance because after all the investigations, common sense prevailed and I was exonerated.'

Under cross-examination by Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness distanced himself from the operation of Silver Maclamaran, the company account that was used to warehouse the N2.2bn.

Olalekan also questioned him on what he knows about a Committee for fundraising towards the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election.

'Yes, I was the chairman of the Committee and a lot of funds were contributed even up to the national level of our...