A recent finding has shown that former Minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro allegedly transferred N1, 299, 490 billion to Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, through an associate Abiodun Agbele.

According to The Nation, the money was loaded into a chartered aircraft, HS125-800 5N-BMT, belonging to Gyro Air Limited.

The monies were allegedly sent to the Governor in two trenches. First, N724.5 million was transferred in a flight and another N494.990 million sent in another flight that arrieved at the Akure airport.

For each of the flight, Obanikoro was said to have paid a whooping $12,500 making a total of $25,000.

The report further disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has obtained footage of Obanikoro at the Akure airport and details of the aircraft used for the transferred.

Obanikoro was said to have defied security men at the Lagos airport by ordering soldiers to break all barriers in the airport and load off the cash on the play.

A source, privy to the matter, said, “Contrary to his attacks on EFCC, we have retrieved the footage and details of how he ordered soldiers to break the barriers at the reserved security gate at Lagos Airport for a bullion van to go to the apron of the chartered service wing.

“He defied security men at the airport and refused to subject the bullion van to any screening contrary to aviation rules. In fact, apart from financial crimes, the ex-Minister and his accomplices have outstanding allegations against them for violating aviation safety rules or regulations.

“The aircraft made two shuttles to Akure Airport on June 17, 2014. Our investigation revealed that during the first flight, about N724.5million was offloaded from the bullion into the aircraft. The cash occupied all the space to the extent that there was nowhere to sit by the crew and the ex-Minister.

“But when the balance of N494.990m was loaded into the aircraft for the second trip, Obanikoro, his ADC, one highly-placed person from the South-West, and the crew were able to make the trip.

“Let him continue to make noise in the United States instead of coming home to clear his name. We have interacted with the aviation staff on ground on the said date.  We have identified the owner of the aircraft to be a member of the sacked management of Skye Bank Plc.”

Another source, a staff of Skye Bank Plc, who spoke on the condition of annoymity, revealed that: “We have evidence of the payment of $25,000 to Gyro Air Limited for the two flights to Akure. And Zenith Bank confirmed how Fayose’s associate, Agbele, brought the cash into its branch in Akure to keep as sundry funds.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “From our findings, the Minister and Fayose fought over N80million missing from the total cash.

“They had a shouting match until reasons prevailed between the two politicians on the whereabouts of the N80million.”

Meanwhile a detective withe EFCC, Tosin Owobo, last week told a federal high court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, how the money was wired to Fayose.

Owobo said, “That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”

“That on the 17th day of June, 2014, Mr. Alade Oluseye in the company of one Abiodun Agbele a front of the Applicant (Fayose), went to the Akure Airport wherein they took cash delivery of the sum of N724,500,000.00 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his acclaimed Aide-de-Camp Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale.

“That on the 18th day of June, 2014, another sum of N494, 990,000 was also delivered to Mr. Alade Oluseye by the said Minister in the same manner.

“ That the total sum of N 1, 219,490,000 (One billion, two hundred and nineteen million, four hundred and ninety thousand naira) was conveyed to Akure Airport by Senator Obanikoro through a chartered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to Gyro Air Limited.”