Ekiti: Fayose’s Aide Sings in EFCC Detention

Abiodun Agbele, aide to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has begun yelping to investigators on how he was used by the governor and former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, to launder huge sums of money from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between 2014 and 2015.  Agbele, who is currently detained by the Economic and Financial crimes Commissions (EFCC), began reeling out details of the laundered cash after the EFCC secured a court order to keep him in detention until it covers salient investigations.

He was arrested Wednesday last week in respect of his alleged role in the diversion of  N4.745billion of the $2.1billion arms funds to Obanikoro and Fayose.

According to credible sources, the money  was sourced from the SAS Imprest Account of the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki, immediate past NSA, before the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State. Of the sum, about N1.219billion was transferred  to Fayose through Agbele and a company De Privateer Limited, which is owned by him. The ONSA allegedly wired the N4.745billion via Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a phony company run by former Obanikoro and his sons.

According to the report, the N1, 219 billion, which was flown as cash through Akure Airport, was not deposited in any account.  Rather, it was kept in a vault at a Zenith Bank branch and took the bank officials about 10 days to count. The bankers refused to make entry until it was counted.

After confirming the figures, reported sources,  Agbele coordinated the disbursement of the funds.

“On August 22, 2014, he paid N50million into the same account. By the records from the bank, Abiodun Agbele paid another N118, 760,000 into Fayose’s account on 27/8/14. “Based on the transfers, Fayose moved N300million to a Fixed Deposit Account No 9013074033 with Zenith Bank at 15, Olusola Abiona Street, Olorunda Estate, Alapere Ketu. He has the same BVN-22338867502. “After that, Abiodun deposited another N100million from the N1, 219, 490,000 into Spotless Hotel Account run by Fayose and his wife, Helen Olayemi Fayose with Account No. 1010170969, Fayose’s BVN is 223338867502 and his wife’s BVN in the account is 22298990256. “The governor and his wife are the two directors and signatories of Spotless Hotel account,” sources have credited.

The  EFCC also discovered De Privateer Limited, owned by  Agbele, with Account No. 1013835889, received  N219, 490,000 on June 18, 2014. The next day, the same account received N300million and another N200million on June 23, 2014. The BVN on the account is 22235692890.