Alade Sunday, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, Akure, Ondo State, on Monday narrated how his bank helped the duo of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State move N1.2 billion.
Mr. Sunday, the prosecution’s principal witness, spoke during the trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Mr. Fayose.
He told the court that as compliance officer, he was worried about the large sum of money being transported, but did not report it to any appropriate authority.
Mr. Agbele is facing trial for his role in the alleged diversion of N1.2 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
He was arraigned alongside Mr. Obanikoro, who was then outside the country, and two others, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye, both of whom are at large.
A company, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, was also accused in the 11-count charge.
Mr. Obanikoro who submitted himself to the EFCC upon his return to Nigeria has agreed to return a bulk of the money he got from the deal.
Mr. Fayose is not being prosecuted because of the immunity he enjoys as governor by virtue of Section 308 of the Nigerian constitution. An account belonging to him, which reportedly had over N1 billion in it, was however frozen by the anti-graft agency, EFCC.
The N1.2 billion is believed to have been largely used to fund Mr. Fayose’s election as Ekiti governor. The controversial politician has since denied the charged and alleged persecution by Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress.
The money is part of the N4.7 billion allegedly transferred from an account at the Central Bank belonging to the Office of the National Security Adviser. The then National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, is also being prosecuted separately on various charges of corruption and illegal possession of firearms.
While being cross examined by Mike Ozekhome, counsel to Mr. Agbele, Mr. Alade affirmed that when the aircraft carrying the cash alighted at the Akure airport, it was Mr. Agbele who took custody of the money and transferred it to the Zenith Bank officials, including instructions on how they were to be transported to the Akure branch of the bank.
The witness, who said he had not met Mr. Obanikoro before the airlift of the cash, said the former minister arrived Akure with Mr. Agbele on the plane that brought the money.
When asked on whose instruction the monies were transferred, he said “the instruction was given by Abiodun Agbele. The transaction was processed on behalf of Agbele, the cash was mostly in N1000 bills while the rest were in N500, and were deposited into the accounts of Spotless Investment, De Privateer limited and Ayodele Fayose’s account.”
Mr. Alade had earlier testified to the court that his zonal manager, Abiodun Oshodi, informed him that a customer would be bringing in some money. But when he was asked to read from his witness statement which stated that he was informed by one Lawrence Akande from the Ibadan branch of the bank, he got agitated and insisted on the fact that he was informed by his zonal manager. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Apart from this witchunting of political opponents, this APC government will not achieve any meaningful achievement till expiration of its tenure...Well,as events are unfolding...
ReplyDeleteHey...has any of the accused denied any involvement in the fraudulent act? Of course not! Infact, Obanikoro have made some refunds. So why for crying out loud do you still talk about witch-hunting? It's either you have benefited one way or the other from the stolen money or you are so daft that you can't fathom the reason the whole country is in a mess today is as a result of the fraudulent and greedy actions of some selected few like Fayose and Obanikoro.
DeleteKJoe
It is people like you that are the enemies of this country and it's people. Have you asked yourself if the people accused of these allegations didn't commit the offens?
DeleteMr. anonymous shame on you, you are part of the mess we are into.
ReplyDeleteGod in his infinite mercy will never forgive your children children.
'You will ever remain poor' both on earth and in hell.
People like you who benefited from the loot will continue to say this. It is you people who are killing Nigeria and the Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteOga @ 11.54 pm. they don't have to achieve any thing at all as long as these stupid rogues like your mentor Fayose who put us into these mess are cleared from circulation and they meet their water loo we are ok.
ReplyDeleteIt's evidence that some pple are Stil block headed. The country is in ressession today because of these greedy pple and some stupid pple like fake isiaka and Co will still be blaming it down on the present government. It's a pity these bigot polician still manipulate large numbers of youth cos of pea nut they will give them. Nigerians youth should wake up else d country will go no where. Prnce
ReplyDelete@Anonymous 9:49. May God bless you for also noting the fake Isiaka parading itself on NE and blaming this government at the slightest opportunity. I have been stressing and warning readers of this Isiaka who is a Mercenary of the same people who have brought us down to our knees today. We know that Isiaka is a paid hand to throw confusion all over the place as confessed by Doyin Okupe that some of the Dasuki Arms money were used for propaganda and social media trolls. Isiaka the Impostor is doing what he's been paid for. No one should take him serious at all.
DeleteIf PMB's only achievement in his first term of governance is the exposure of all these rogues and looters, so be it and I can confidently tell whoever cares to listen that if he contested gain in 2019, he has one vote in mine.
ReplyDeletePlease keep quiet let us all reason well let those banks be closed and arrest the bank officials OK
ReplyDelete