Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, have had the further hearing in their trial over an alleged N6.9bn fraud adjourned until May 8, 2023. Justice Chukujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, made the decision on Wednesday, March 21, 2023.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on an 11-count charge of money laundering and stealing to the tune of N6.9bn on July 2, 2019. The defendants had first been arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.
During the resumed hearing on March 21, the 12th prosecution witness, Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, told the court that he had no document showing that he withdrew the sum of N1.2 billion, which he allegedly gave Fayose. Obanikoro said he never showed the EFCC operatives any document showing that he gave instruction or withdrew the sum of N1.2 billion from the Diamond Bank account of Sylva McNamara Limited.
Obanikoro had previously told the court that the sum of N1.2 billion was deposited into the account of a company, Sylva McNamara, to fund “clandestine security operations” to prevent terrorists’ activities in Lagos State in two installments. When asked if he produced any resolution of Board of Directors of Sylva McNamara, authorising him to control the management of the account of the company, he said “No.” He added that “there was no letter from Sylva McNamara to the then Diamond Bank, telling the bank that I was asked to control and manage the account.”
Obanikoro, who said Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, had no interactions with Fayose or Diamond Bank in respect of the N1.2 billion withdrawn from the account of Sylva McNamara Limited, further told the court that the EFCC exonerated him of any wrongdoing after investigations.
When asked if he was ever asked to refund money to the EFCC, he said: “Yes, I refunded, as it was part of the conditions given for my release. Anywise man would do the same.” But when asked how much was refunded, he said: “I do not recall.” However, when asked if the money he refunded was between N100m and N200m, he responded: “Okay, around that…”
Obanikoro, while reacting to the question about the sum of $4bn he allegedly gave Fayose, said: ”In our line of business, it is not customary to ask for receipt or acknowledgement of such money. So, there was no confirmation of the money.”
The case was adjourned till May 8 and 9, and June 6 and 8, 2023, for the continuation of the trial.