According to SaharaReporters , the commission obtained financial transaction information and witness testimonies connecting Mr. Obanikoro with a group of companies which received at least N1.45 billion to rig the two governorship elections last year.
The N1.45 billion was allegedly funneled into the accounts of five companies, all of which were under the control of Mr. Obanikoro. The evidence of these transactions emerged from EFCC interrogations of ten suspects connected with the $2.1 billion arms scandal involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Sambo Dasuki.
It would be recalled that SaharaReporters exclusively published an audio recording by whistle-blower Captain Sagir Koli last February revealing Mr. Obanikoro presiding over a meeting on the eve of the Ekiti election that was called to discuss how to ensure the victory of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ayo Fayose. In addition to both men at the meeting were the Osun State governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore; the Minister for Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan; and Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh of the Nigerian Army.
The Nation newspaper said it was told by a source that massive amounts of money were moved from the Federal Government to an “ex-Minister” to rig the Ekiti and Osun State governor contests. SaharaReporters has confirmed that the former minister in reference is Mr. Obanikoro.
Mr. Obanikoro is currently thought to be hiding out in the United States. Source speaking with SaharaReporters correspondent disclosed that agents of the Department of State Security recently intercepted several calls between a panicky Mr. Obanikoro and the former Senate President, David Mark, in which the former Minister pleaded for assistance from Mr. Mark regarding his forthcoming legal problems.
The same sources said that Mr. Obanikoro fears extradition if he remains where he is hiding and is therefore trying to “eliminate” the prospects of legal proceedings against him in Nigeria.
One of the suspects interrogated by the EFCC is an official of the ONSA who confirmed that the funds were transferred to the five companies at the behest of a former Accountant-General.
According to SaharaReporters’ investigations, the companies controlled by Mr. Obanikoro which received the deposits included: Stellavera Dev Company (N300m), First Aralac Global Limited (N300m), First Aralac Global Limited (N100m), Damaris Mode (N300m), Stellavera Dev Company (N200m), and Whese Farms Ltd (N250m).
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