The Task Force investigating the alleged diversion of
$2.1bn meant for arms procurement under the immediate
past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has
embarked on a discrete investigation into the former
Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.
It was gathered that the team of EFCC investigators had
traced the sum of N4.75bn to the account of Silva
McNamara Limited with Diamond Bank with links to the
family of the former minister.
A top operative of the commission, who confided in our
correspondent, said that the company had two sons of the
former minister on its board.
The names of the relatives on the company’s board are
Gbolahan Obanikoro and Babajide Obanikoro.
It was stated that the duo were on the board of the company
till 2014 when one Olalekan Ogunseye became the sole
signatory to the company’s account.
Investigations revealed that the funds were paid into the
McNamara account from the Central Bank of Nigeria
Imprest Account of the National Security adviser between
June 6, 2014 and December, 12, 2015.
The breakdown of the lodgements of funds into the account
during the six months period revealed that N200m was paid
into the account on June 6, 2014; N2bn on June 16, 2014;
N60m on July 6, 2014 and N7, 000m on July 7, 2014.
Other lodgements into the account within the period include
the payment of N1bn on July 30, 2014; N160m on August 8,
2014; N225m on August 22, 2014; N200m on November,
14, 2014 and N200m on December, 5, 2014.
The source said that the commission was probing the
payment of N4.75bn to McNamara because the funds were
released without any contractual evidence.
It was however stated that Obanikoro’s name was not
found in the transactions as he was not on the board of the
company.
It was stated that efforts are being made to unravel the
mystery behind the payment of the large amount of money
to the company which has two of his sons as members of
the board of directors.
Our correspondent could not get the Head of Media and
Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, to comment on
the story as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not
connect.
In his response, however, a media aide to Obanikoro, Mr.
Jonathan Eze, denied allegations that the former minister
was involved in any fraud.
He said all the allegations were mere speculations and
urged members of the public to treat them as such.
He said, “As far as Senator Obanikoro is concerned, these
are mere allegations that have not been proven and can
never be proved. The former minister insists that his
children were never directors at the company and were
never signatories.
