Security agents yesterday arrested Hajiya Morufat Obanikoro, former Minister of Defence Musiliu Obanikoro’s wife.
Her arrest followed intelligence sharing by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mrs. Obanikoro was picked up over the ongoing investigation of her husband, who is wanted for questioning over the N4.745billion slush funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The funds were reportedly traced to Obanikoro, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, former Osun State Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore and three companies with links to Omisore.
Mrs. Obanikoro, who was transffered by the DSS to the EFCC, was later released by the anti-graft agency after a bail. Her international passport was impounded. Sources said her bail is with the condition of surety support of a landed property owner in Lagos. She was requested to return on Monday for interrogation.
According to sources, Mrs. Obanikoro allegedly arrived in the country last weekend from the United States.
It was learnt that she was arrested by the DSS in Lagos while sorting out some documents relating to the ongoing investigation of her husband.
A source said: “We got a report that Mrs. Obanikoro had sneaked into the country from the United States. After the confirmation of her travel log, an alert was issued to all security agencies. “Following intelligence sharing with the EFCC, the operatives of the DSS arrested her in Lagos with some documents relating to the probe of the N4.745billion slush funds from ONSA. Another source spoke of excitement about Mrs. Obanikoro’s arrest because “some of the funds under investigation were wired into her company, which is called MOB. “She needs to explain to this commission what job she did to deserve such remittance into her account,” the source said.
Responding to a question, the source added: “Mrs. Obanikoro had sued the EFCC for the enforcement of fundamental human rights for allegedly harassing her tenants and in-laws during the course of investigating her husband.” The N4.745billion cash was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) prior to the conduct of Ekiti State governorship poll on June 21, 2014.
Others linked to the sharing of the slush funds include Fayose’s associate, Abiodun Agbele(alias Abbey); Mrs. Helen Olayemi Fayose; Gbolahan Obanikoro; Babajide Obanikoro; Sylvan Mcnamara Limited(a phoney company allegedly ran by the Obanikoros); Spotless Hotel; and De Privateer Limited, which is owned by Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele.
Some Bureaux de change firms have also been fingered as having some roles in changing N759, 384, 300 (out of the N4.745billion) into dollars.
A curious aspect of the landmark findings by the EFCC was how Obanikoro, as a minister, flew N1.219billion to Akure for Fayose a few days before the governorship poll.
According to documents obtained by TheNation's correspondent, EFCC crack detectives discovered that a firm, Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, allegedly owned by Obanikoro and his sons, was used to launder the N4.745billion.
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I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 15-07-2016 06:23 AM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero
dickieponga at 15-07-2016 07:01 AM (8 years ago) (m)
Quote from: UDADA1 on 15-07-2016 06:44 AM
May pple do not have interest again since the matter was in conection with that of Fayose. Mr Buhari should stop winchhunting this Fayose.
Dis is not a matter of witch hunting somebody..Dey stole money plain and simple and if u don't understand dat den don't bother making any comments... Let EFCC do dere job cos no one is immune. Just bcos na Fayose una dey talk rubbish. Let Fayose speak for imsef... Write ur english properly so we can all understand wat u mean....
Posted: at 15-07-2016 07:01 AM (8 years ago) | Hero
scottchris at 15-07-2016 10:15 AM (8 years ago) (m)
Negodunu.... See how this common criminals are wiring our money here nd there..... I wonder if our money don turn cable.... Chai...none of you will die nd take 1kobo to hell oo.... Ole politicians
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
Posted: at 15-07-2016 10:15 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
slimmygal at 15-07-2016 11:43 AM (8 years ago) (f)
good, make dem continue to dey arrest them till we see where d remaining dey. imagine as dis people dey share country money like say na party parcel, na thunder go fire all of them together.
Posted: at 15-07-2016 11:43 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
typical Nigeria...our lawyer enforcement agencies are idiots and out of control...why are you arresting the wife for a crime committed by the husband when there is no evidence that she was involved in it...its just stupidity...Its only in Nigeria that a police officer will arrest a father or mother if they can not find the child
Posted: at 15-07-2016 01:46 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac
osarobo62 at 15-07-2016 03:39 PM (8 years ago) (m)
Quote from: eric2000 on 15-07-2016 01:46 PM
typical Nigeria...our lawyer enforcement agencies are idiots and out of control...why are you arresting the wife for a crime committed by the husband when there is no evidence that she was involved in it...its just stupidity...Its only in Nigeria that a police officer will arrest a father or mother if they can not find the child
do you know if money was also paid into her account or into that of one of her fake companies
Posted: at 15-07-2016 03:39 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
Looting Nigeria is politicans family business she knows more than she is telling they should have keep her there, but my question is where was EFCC when her husband left Naija?
Posted: at 15-07-2016 10:18 PM (8 years ago) | Hero
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