Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has admitted that he gave N2.3 billion to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in the run-up to the Ekiti State governorship election in 2014.

Obanikoro reportedly made the admission during his ongoing interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He reportedly told EFCC operatives that N60m was converted to dollars at N168 per to a dollar and given to Fayose, adding that he personally handed over N5,357,357 to the governor on one occasion.

A top operative of the commission, who spoke to the PUNCH newspaper on condition of anonymity, said Obanikoro told his interrogators that the money was transferred to Fayose on the instruction of the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.

The source claimed that following the instructions from the former NSA, the sum of N1.3bn was brought for transfer to Fayose by Diamond Bank in a bullion van.

Obanikoro was also said to have told the EFCC operatives that Agbele received the money in the presence of the ex-minister’s Aide De Camp, one Lt. Adewale, and officials of Diamond Bank at the Lagos airport.

The EFCC source said: “He (Obanikoro) admitted that N2.23bn was transferred to Macnamara for onward transfer to Governor Ayodele Fayose. He claimed that it was done on the instructions of the NSA.

“He also said he handed over N5,357,357 to Fayose.

“Obanikoro told the commission that the N1.3bn was received by Mr. Biodun Agbele, one of Fayose’s associates, in the presence of his (Obanikoro) ADC, one Lt. Adewale, and bank officials.”

“Obanikoro also said the money was moved from the Lagos airport to Akure airport in two flights.

“He said he instructed that the money be handed over to the governor before leaving with the first flight,” the source said.

On the ownership of Sylvan Mcnamara, the company that received N4.685bn from the ONSA between April 4, 2014 and November 13, 2014, Obanikoro was said to have denied ownership of the company.

The EFCC source stated: “He denied being the owner of the company but admitted introducing the owner of the company, one Mr. Kareem Taiwo, to the NSA during the days of the threat of Boko Haram in Lagos and the South-West.

“He said the company was introduced to the ONSA at a time government was taking a decision to incorporate local input into intelligence gathering to prevent terrorists attacks in Lagos and the South-West.”

Recall that EFCC had alleged that Obanikoro’s sons, Babajide and Gbolahan, were directors in Sylvan Mcnamara as of the time the money was paid into the company’s account.

The PUNCH reported that Obanikoro was still being detained by the EFCC and investigations continue on Wednesday.