The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has gathered new evidence against the former minister for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro and his son, Gbolahan as part of investigation into the diverted arms fund involving the office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.
The EFCC disclosed that an official of Diamond Bank, Damola Otuyalo revealed to the anti-graft agency that he personally handed over the sum of N1.2 billion to Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his son, Gbolahan.
The EFCC’s informant further maintained that the exercise was captured on a Closed Circuit Television.
The EFCC further in its investigation revealed that the said N1.2 billion is part of the N4.7 billion paid into Obanikoro’s sons’ company account by the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.
The bank official who is the Head of Cash-in-Transit Services said: “The beneficiaries were not available to be paid as I did not see them and I was later directed by Mr. Premier Oiwoh to move the money to the airport where I will be given further instruction.
“We moved the cash to the airport through the Cash-In-Transit vendor, Bankers Warehouse Limited. I contacted the vendor who made the bullion van available for movement. I personally supervised the loading of the money into the bullion van and escorted them to the airport.”
Otuyalo who revealed to anti-graft agency operatives that his job was to move excess cash from bank branches to other locations where money was needed said upon arrival at the airport at around 7:00am, he along with the security detail were not allowed access to the private wing because they lacked gate pass.
He further revealed that Obanikoro’s son came to the main gate a few minutes later and asked that the security men let the bullion van in.
“When Gbolahan got to the gate, he cleared us and we drove in. My boss, Mr. Premier Oiwoh, called me on the telephone and confirmed to me that Obanikoro was the beneficiary of the money.
“I handed my phone over to Gbolahan and he spoke to my boss. Obanikoro came to meet us at the private wing with two policemen and some friends. I recognised Obanikoro very well because he is popular.”
The Bank staff further disclosed that offloading the money into the three aeroplanes took a long while due to the amount involved.