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Arms deal: How we laundered millions into Fayose’s account –Witness


First prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Biodun Agbele, Mr. Alade Sunday, yesterday, gave a vivid breakdown of how N1.2bn was paid into the account of Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose in different tranches.


The witness, who is an associate of Fayose, at the resumed trial before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, told the court that N90m was paid into the governor’s account on June 23, 2014, while another N2.5m was paid in the same account on June 11, 2014.

Sunday, who was cross examined by Agbele’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said that N1m was paid into Mr. Fayose’s account on June 2, and another N895,315 was paid into the account on June 5, 2014.

The witness, however, agreed with Ozekhome that the account was in a very active state and that the monies were paid into the account before Fayose became governor of Ekiti State.

“The money was pack in Ghana must go and grey trampoline bags in two aircraft.

“It took us about 45minutes to off load the bags from the aircraft with the assistance of one Oluolu Omotosho, driver of the van that transported the money and some security guards that followed Agbele whose name I cannot remember.

“After our discussion at the airport with the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and Agbele, one Adewale A.O who introduced himself as the ADC to Obanikoro accompanied us and insisted that the monies be counted.

“It was after we counted the money that we deposited it into the various account numbers he gave us, including that of Governor Fayose,” the witness said.

The witness, who also gave a narration of how Agbele instructed that another N263m, be transported to Ado Ekiti, however, maintained that he did not follow Olaolu to Ado Ekiti with the money.

The trial judge, however, adjourned trial to 25, 26, and 27 January for continuation of trial.

It would be recalled that Agbele was arraigned alongside former Obanikoro (in absentia), Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, A. O. Adewale, Tunde Oshinowo and Olalekan Ogunseye (all at large) before the court on an 11 count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.2bn, allegedly transferred from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, by the embattled former NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

The said the sum was alleged to be part of the N4.7bn that was mysteriously transferred from the imprest account of the Office of the National Security Adviser to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company allegedly owned by the sons of Obanikoro.

Obanikoro allegedly took N1.2bn from the N4.7bn and flew it to Akure during the build-up to the governorship election in Ekiti State.

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