#DasukiGate – EFCC Trace N4.75Bn to the Obanikoros

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it traced the sum of N4.75bn to a Diamond Bank account, owned by Silva McNamara Limited.

Two sons of the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Gbolahan and Babajide Obanikoro, were discovered to be on the board of the company.

The EFCC Task Force said the funds discovered in Silva McNamara Limited’s account is connected to the ongoing investigating the alleged diversion of $2.1bn meant for arms procurement under the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

Obanikoro’s sons were said to have been on the board of the company until 2014 when Olalekan Ogunseye became the sole signatory to the company’s account.

According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that the N4.75bn was paid into the McNamara account, in batches, from the Central Bank of Nigeria Imprest Account of the National Security adviser between June 6, 2014 and December, 12, 2015.

The funds were transferred into the company’s account within a six-month period.

N200m was said to have been 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.

Within the same period, N1bn was paid into the account 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 EFCC, in its investigations, is trying to determine why N4.75bn was paid to McNamara without any evidence of a contract.

Jonathan Eze, a media aide to the former Minister has said the children were never on the board of the said company.

“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.”

“These allegations are the handiwork of Sahara Reporters and I have taken them to court. Very soon, the truth will be made known but I urge members of the public not to believe these allegations. Senator Obanikoro’s children are victims of cheap politics but the truth will be revealed.”