EFCC Obtains Footage Of Obanikoro Loading Chartered Aircraft With N1.29b For Fayose

Musiliu ObanikoroThe immediate past Minister of Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, allegedly loaded a chartered aircraft with about N1.3billion for onward transfer to Governor Ayodele Fayose through an associate, Abiodun Agbele, a new detailed investigation has revealed.

The cash was transferred through the aircraft with tail number HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.

While the first flight was fully loaded with N724.5million, the second flight ferried N494.990million to Akure Airport, Ondo State.

It was learnt that the aircraft had to make two trips as a result of the quantity of cash involved and so that it will be able to airlift the former minister, his ADC, Lt. Col. A.O Adewale and crew members.

Records indicated yesterday that for each of the trip, Obanikoro paid $12,500 making a total of $25,000.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has retrieved footage showing Obanikoro’s movement at the airport and flight schedule of the aircraft.

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According to fresh evidence in the possession of the anti-graft agency, the ex-minister had defied security gate at the airport in Lagos to move a bullion van to the apron of the chartered wing to off-load the cash, despite protest by the security men.

It was learnt that Obanikoro ordered soldiers to break all barriers for the bullion van to get to the apron.

“Contrary to his attacks on EFCC, we have retrieved the footage and details of how he ordered soldiers to break the barriers at the reserved security gate at Lagos Airport for a bullion van to go to the apron of the chartered service wing.

“He defied security men at the airport and refused to subject the bullion van to any screening contrary to aviation rules. In fact, apart from financial crimes, the ex-Minister and his accomplices have outstanding allegations against them for violating aviation safety rules or regulations.

“The aircraft made two shuttles to Akure Airport on June 17, 2014. Our investigation revealed that during the first flight, about N724.5million was offloaded from the bullion into the aircraft. The cash occupied all the space to the extent that there was nowhere to sit by the crew and the ex-Minister.

“But when the balance of N494.990m was loaded into the aircraft for the second trip, Obanikoro, his ADC, one highly-placed person from the South-West, and the crew were able to make the trip.

“Let him continue to make noise in the United States instead of coming home to clear his name. We have interacted with the aviation staff on ground on the said date.  We have identified the owner of the aircraft to be a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc”, a reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said.