Posted By: Joseph Jibueze On: November 20, 2018
A prosecution witness yesterday told the Federal High Court in Lagos how three aircraft flew N1.2billion from Lagos to Ekiti State for delivery to former Governor Ayo Fayose.

Danmola Otuyena, a banker, was testifying in Fayose’s trial for allegedly receiving and keeping N1.2billion and $5million said to have been stolen from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), contrary to the Money Laundering Act. Otuyena, who headed his bank’s Cash in Transit Services Unit when the transaction occurred, said he accompanied the bullion van that took the cash to the airport.

He was the fourth prosecution witness and was led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).

The witness gave evidence on the bank account of Sylvan Mcnamara Limited and how cash was withdrawn from it on the instructions of former Minister of Defence (State) Musiliu Obanikoro on June 16 and 17, 2014. The witness also revealed that although Obanikoro operated the account and was the known holder, he was not the official signatory to it nor was he a director to the company in whose name the account was opened.

Otuyena said he got instructions from his boss to get the cash ready for movement to Ekiti.

“My director gave further instructions that we should move the cash to the airport. We contacted the cash in transit company that renders bullion services – Bankers Warehouse Ltd – and the cash was moved to the private wing of Murtala Mohammed Airport.

“We could not get access when we got there, so we waited outside. My director said someone would be there to attend to us.

“He spoke to a certain Gbolahan Obanikoro through my phone. He helped to process a pass and we were able to enter the airport – the bullion van and myself.

“Later, Musiliu Obanikoro came. My boss called me and spoke to him through my phone and said we should give him the cash. The cash was given to him.

“We loaded the bags of cash into the aircraft. About two or three aircraft were used to load the cash.

“My director, Premier Oyiwo, having identified Obanikoro, said I should release the cash to him. When we pay cash to beneficiaries, they sign off for collection. Obanikoro signed off for collection,” the witness said.

Asked how the cash was packed, Otuyena said: “We have bags designed in a standard way in the banking industry. We used them to package the money. We call them jumbo bags. We used the biggest sizes to pack the money. We used jumbo bags for the N1.2billion.”

Otuyena said he also got a call from his boss on June 17, 2014 to pay N200million to Malik Bauchi from the same account operated by Obanikoro. He said he was asked to waive the identification process.

“But we contacted the account holder. Rather than pay Bauchi, the amount was paid to the account holder. We used Ghana Must Go bags for the N200million,” the witness said.

Under cross examination by defence counsel Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the witness said there was an initial instruction that the N1.2billion be paid to six persons, but that they were not available to collect the cash before it was given to Obanikoro. He insisted that Obanikoro was the account holder and ran the company account even though his name was not stated in the account opening documents that he was the sole signatory.

The witness read a board resolution appointing Olalekan Ogunseye as the sole signatory to the account.

“I’ve not come across any other resolution appointing another signatory to the account or Obanikoro as the signatory,” he said.

Ojo asked the witness if there was evidence that Obanikoro personally withdrew the cash from the bank in view of the fact that there was no instruction to that effect in his name.

The witness said: “The narration we have in the bank statement is fund transfer. There was no entry that Obanikoro received the N1.2billion.”

On why that is so, the witness explained: “The instruction to release the cash first went to the Treasury Department, which debited Sylvan Mcnamara’s account and moved the cash to a transit account. So the entry is a default narration for the debit.”

The witness said Obanikoro was not a director to the company, and that he did not know what happened to the cash after he handed it over to the former minister.

Three other witnesses testified earlier for the prosecution: Zonal Heads, Southwest 1 and 2 of a new generation bank, Lawrance Akande and Abiodun Oshodi, and the Head of Financial Operations of another new generation bank, Olaitan Fajuyitan.

Akande said he was informed that money would be brought from the Akure airport to be paid into the accounts of Spotless Nigeria Limited (Fayose’s company and co-accused) and De Privateer Limited.

He said Fayose’s associate Abiodun Agbele called him in June 2014, saying he had a lodgment of N1.2billion to make. He said he also got a call from Fayose to that effect.

Akande said he asked Oshodi to follow the transaction, adding that they had solicited for deposits from Fayose.

“I had no reason to regard the funds as proceeds of crime. I didn’t observe any anomalies in the operation of the accounts,” he said under cross examination.

Oshodi testified that he got a bullion van that took the money from Akure airport to the bank for lodgment.

“Biodun Agbele came with a security escort, including police and soldiers, and we went to the Akure airport with the branch manager and the bullion van.

“We moved the bullion van close to the plane, and then evacuated the cash. The former minister was there also.

“Agbele supplied the accounts where the money would be lodged – De Privateer, Spotless and the personal account of Fayose,” he said.

The witness also narrated how the cash was deposited. For instance, he said a driver, Taofik, came to the bank 21 times to make some cash deposits in one day. He said Taofik deposited N9.9million 10 times, N9.5million 10 times, and N5.5million once. Other deposits were also made at various dates, he said.

“Taofik happens to be the driver of Abiodun Agbele. The teller was filled by our former cash officer. Taofik couldn’t write,” he said.

Oshodi testified that the deposits were normal, and that he associated with Agbele because he considered him a man of good character.

“I didn’t know the source of the money. I was glad to receive the money. Until I was called by the EFCC, I didn’t find any anomaly with the money,” he said under cross examination.

Oshodi said Fayose also did not personally visit the bank to make any lodgments.

Fajuyitan said he received instruction to make the N1.2billion available, as well as the N200million, which he moved into a transit account He said since the money came from the ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it must be legitimate.

“My bank will not knowingly receive proceeds of crime. The bank does not regard the money as proceed of crime,” the witness said.

Fayose had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on an 11-count charge. He was charged with his company, Spotless Limited.

EFCC said Fayose and Agbele, who is facing a different charge, allegedly took possession of N1, 219, 000, 000 on June 17, 2014 to fund the former governor’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

The commission said Fayose “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing.” The alleged offence is contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4).

EFCC said Fayose, on the same day, received cash payment of $5million from Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution, the sum having exceeded the amount authorised by law. The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes Sections 1 and 16 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.

The commission said Fayose benefitted from N4.65billion slush funds allocated by the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. EFCC listed Obanikoro as one of 22 witnesses who will testify in the trial. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned until January 21 and 28 for continuation of trial.

http://thenationonlineng.net/fayoses-trial-moved-n1-2b-cash-three-planes-says-witness/

No video No picture
Then this are all lies

Not vouching for anyone, APC only want to keep him quiet.

Na wa ooo. And he Fayose will be there claiming that he is fighting for the people.

Honestly these people (politicians) have ruined this country.

The evidence is verbal and baseless we have videos of one governor in Kano collecting bribe from a contractor his own will not take long u guys should start with him

The god of children of hate, anger and frustration should come and defend their lord and saviour ooooo.

Fayose is already in "sifia pain" just like the drug-addict FFK and Wenden Simlin.

Whether una like am or not, we sane Nigerians are in the majority and will always have our way. You guys can rant, wail and curse online, e no concern us.

bitcoin215:
No video No picture
Then this are all lies

Not vouching for anyone, APC only want to keep him quiet.

Na Akamu or saw dust dey your brain.

Sometimes i'm speechless when I read about money being carted away by inglorious politicians.

bitcoin215:
No video No picture
Then this are all lies

Not vouching for anyone, APC only want to keep him quiet.

Some of you just reason with your anuses. Others have since agreed a plead bargain with EFCC after you lot shouted witch Hunt and you think Fayose your defeated hero is different from the others?

Actually learn to think, it won't hurt your brain. And also note that the peanuts you have been given to luander the images of thieves like Fayose would soon finish and your children and children's children will suffer for your madness of today.

lol..another witch hunting.

PassingShot:

Na Akamu or saw dust dey your brain.

Lol. Don't mind these Atikulators. Anything in a PDP garb is holy to them.

Just like every other sensational trial, it wouldn't be concluded. Remember they are at the High court level and the third court proceedings is Jan. Federal high court can be a full year. Immediately the defend counsel realize that alibi is sure to nail their client, they file for a stay of execution or even interlocutory appeal. That's is if PDP do not win next year presidential election. Should PDP emerge winner, case closed.

Na wa oh

Big Lie, I can't believe such

agbangam:
Na wa ooo. And he Fayose will be there claiming that he is fighting for the people.

Meanwhile he's fighting for his stomach infrastructure.

What is good for Akin is for good for Adamu, Gandollar.

bitcoin215:
No video No picture
Then this are all lies

Not vouching for anyone, APC only want to keep him quiet.

N1.2billion belonging to the good people of Nigeria was transfered illegally in one day to fund Fayose's election and all you can say is no video, no picture. Do you know many hospitals and schools that N1.2billion can provide? Some of you wailers are really irredeemable.

When you're an excellent kpomo cutter but you can't even cover your tracks

Be like say dem don perfect plans to nail this guy even before trial start.

Fayose is greater than Nnamdi azikwe, ojukwu, cownu combined
If you don't want to swim don't abuse me

Crucify him, what abt Gandollar? He is a saint since he is in APC?... this is a very bad example for the future Nigeria ooo. ..

Moving just #1.2b three times, is just lies, can't it be moved once

I'm an upcoming artiste, i have a song on ground titled - OBIdiently ATIKUlate.
like my post if u will download this song!

Keep talking about cash transit and cash in transit. No one is talking about Cash in agbada that was seen with our own korokoro eyes.

EFCC is a government tool against opposition. The table will soon turn.

They should provide cctv footage of them while giving fayose the money..... from the witnesses explanations, None of them has ever said anything directly about the cash....






This is a baseless argument, even the Juggernaut knows that why she adjourned the case till January next year

We're not totally dis-crediting the story. But if all these were to be true, Efcc would have nailed him in court.
How do you even ask the court to grant you permission to detain him in order to gather more evidences. Efcc are a bunch of jokers

It's my buyday. Show some love

Ganduje no need aircraft..

Na babariga things

Alejof:
We don hear this story.... Sentence this guy and go after every other thief. Simple

What of Ganduje