On Wednesday, Musiliu Obanikoro, the former minister of state for defence, revealed that a sum of N1.219 billion was airlifted to Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, during the 2014 election.

As reported by Vistanaij Media, Fayose is currently facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with his company, Spotless Investment Limited, for their alleged involvement in N6.9 billion money laundering.

Testifying as a witness for the EFCC, Obanikoro informed Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja that he received the money from former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

“I was a minister under Jonathan’s administration. Sometime in 2014, we were going to have an election in Ekiti State. Some days before the election, I got a call from Governor Fayose asking me if I received any message for him from ONSA, I told him I would call him later,” Obanikoro stated.

He further explained, “Then I had a phone conversation with the NSA, and he told me that N2.2 billion was paid into the Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd account. And I handed over the N1.219 billion cash to Mr Agbele, the bank manager, for onward delivery to Fayose. I didn’t take N19 million, contrary to a publication by a Lagos-based online platform.”

Obanikoro clarified that the Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd account was created to address the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos. He also mentioned that the funds were airlifted from Lagos in two installments due to the aircraft’s capacity limitations.

Justice Dimgba adjourned the case to February 27, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.