The family and associates of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro have started raising N100m to facilitate his release from detention, Punch reports.

A source told the news platform that the family was concerned about his health and are doing everything to ensure he doesn’t stay in EFCC custody beyond Tuesday.

He also confirmed that the bail set for Obanikoro’s release was N100m.

“We are concerned about his health and we are not ready to see him still in detention beyond Tuesday this week. The man’s life is more important than the money they are asking him questions about,” the source stated.

The Minister’s media aide, Jonathan Eze said the EFCC was supposed to release Obanikoro unconditionally since he came to the country on his own volition and has been cooperating.

Eze added, “Everything about investigation and interrogation, as far as I am concerned, is not done hastily. In as much as I would want a situation whereby Oga (Obanikoro) would have been released by now, we have no choice than to just play by the rule.

“They have said it themselves that Oga is cooperating, and because they have acknowledged his cooperation, they should speed up whatever they are doing, so that Oga can go back.

Oga is not even strong, health-wise, so that he can go and take care of himself and considering the fact that he came on his own volition, without being arrested or declared wanted, I think he should be attended to fast.

“He is a senior citizen, he can’t do anything that is untoward and he will always be around. We just hope that this new week, he would be released unconditionally.”

Obanikoro had reportedly said he gave N3.88bn to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose  and PDP governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore for their election campaign.

Obanikoro is being investigated for N4.7bn allegedly received from the office of the National Security Adviser in 2014.

Azeez