Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has returned another sum of money (N30m) to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission bringing the total sum he has returned to N134m, this a top source in the commission, last night, said.
This came as an FCT High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sen. Bala Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mohammed, a minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, as Obanikoro, had been in the custody of the EFCC since Oct. 21 following public petitions against him.
Recalled that Obanikoro some weeks ago was released on bail and as part of the conditions for his release he was said to have agreed to return N480m out of the N4.7 billion which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC said he will be made to account for. Obanikoro During the release he returned N100m and has pledged to return N480m.
The according to the source N30m returned was as part of the N4.7 billion traced to firms linked to him “Obanikoro came on Monday and presented a draft of about N30m. Initially we did not want to collect it because it is small compared to what he is supposed to have given us. However, the legal department advised us to collect it.
“About N450m is remaining and Obanikoro has promised to pay the rest in 2017. He will also be reporting at our office every two weeks.” the top source revealed On arrival to Nigeria last month, Obanikoro had revealed in his statement to the EFCC, that he gave Fayose N2.23 billion and $5,377,000 in cash while his associate, Mr. Abiodun Agbele, got N1.3 billion. Obanikoro admitted that the N1.3 billion was flown to Akure airport in two chartered flights for delivery to Agbele.
The former minister said he also gave N1.7 billion to a former Osun Deputy Governor, Senator Iyiola Omisore, but did not say what the money was meant for.
The money was sourced from the $2.1billion meant for arms purchase at the ONSA. But Fayose has spit fire over Obanikoro’s revelations and accused the EFCC of bringing him from the U.S. under an arrangement to give him a ‘soft landing’ and use him to nail him (Fayose) and others named in the arms scam.