Alleged N4.7bn Fraud: Obanikoro To Testify Against Gov Fayose

A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has reportedly agreed to testify against Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and his aide, Mr. Abiodun Agbele.Punch reports Obanikoro was at the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday and a reliable source told them:

“Senator Obanikoro came to the EFCC office on Monday morning as part of investigations into the N4.7bn. Since he has confessed that he was the one who collected the N4.7bn and distributed it, he is in the best position to testify in court.The EFCC wants him to testify against Agbele which will also build a strong case against Fayose who currently enjoys immunity. Obanikoro has agreed and will be listed as one of the EFCC witnesses.

“If Agbele is convicted, it automatically means that Fayose will also be convicted once he is charged in 2018. So let Fayose continue to play games. Omisore and Obanikoro are cooperating and returning money. Their troubles will end soon while Fayose’s own will keep getting worse.”

When contacted, Obanikoro’s lawyer, Mr. James Onoja (SAN), said he was not aware that his client was with the EFCC but promised to find out.“I have been in court all day so I was not aware that he (Obanikoro) was with the EFCC. I will find out,” he said.

However, a source told Punch that the EFCC could still charge Obanikoro to court if he failed to cooperate with the EFCC.He said: “Obanikoro has returned N104m and has pledged to return N480m in instalments every four months but if he cannot cooperate with the EFCC, then he and his sons may be charged along with the others.

“Plea bargain and negotiation are a standard practice in criminal justice across the world.”