Obanikoro made the statement while giving evidence in the criminal trial of the immediate-past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, facing charges of an alleged N6.9billion fraud.

Fayose was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Oct. 22, 2018, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts.

He, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the court had granted him bail in the sum of N50million, with one surety in like sum.

Trial had commenced on Nov. 19, 2018, with the EFCC calling four witnesses, while the court had then adjourned for continuation of trial.

On Tuesday, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) appeared for the EFCC, while Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) represented the first and second defendants, respectively.

Obanikoro, the fifth prosecution witness, who began his evidence on Jan. 21, and was cross-examined on Feb. 4, mounted the witness box in continuation of his cross-examination.

Under cross-examination by the second defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Obanikoro told the court that during his tenure as a Commissioner in Lagos in charge of Home Affairs and Culture, he had interfaced with various security agencies in the discharge of his duties.

According to him, he had sourced for a security outfit known as Silva Mcnamara, owned by one Kareem Taiwo, to the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), when the need arose to provide for security operations in Lagos State.

He said that the outfit performed credibly and did a good job.

Ojo then asked the witness, “you said Kareem Taiwo did a good job,” witness replied “Yes.”

Ojo: “Then are you not surprised that a petition was still written by the NSA against both of you, for having gotten money from the NSA illicitly.’’

Obanikoro replied in the affirmative and added: “And I state that I deserve a medal of honour for the great work I did in securing Lagos State then’’.

Ojo: “’Am sure you are aware of the offences you were alleged to have committed, for which you were granted bail by the EFCC,’’ witness replied `Yes’.

Defence counsel then asked the witness to tell the court the offence.

Obanikoro replied: “It was based on a petition sent by the NSA that about N4.6 billion or thereabout was sent in an account operated by me, without proper documentation’’.

Defence counsel: “Will I be right to say that the allegations consisted of fraud’’.

Witness: “Until I see it’’.

Defence Counsel asked: “Are you still on Administrative bail?’’

Witness replied: “Well, I have not been discharged, to the best of my knowledge’’.

Defence counsel: “It was also alleged that there were no approvals for the funds alleged to have been transferred to a number of companies listed in exhibit I, including Silva Mcnamara,’’ the witness replied: “correct’’.

Defence counsel: “So I suggest to you that at all material time, you were being investigated to have been privy to the illicit transfer of funds’’.

Witness: “Correct’’.

Defence counsel: “Till today, the allegation of illicit transfer of funds has not being withdrawn against you by the EFCC’’.

Witness: “To the best of my knowledge, you are correct’’.

Defence counsel: “Did you produce any document to show the relationship between Kareem and the Office of the NSA, contrary to allegations that the NSA does not know him?’’

The witness replied: “No’’, and added that the Office of the NSA had responsibility for coordination of security across the nation, some of which are clandestine and not documented.

On who gave instructions to Diamond Bank for the release of N1.2 billion, Obanikoro replied that “I was the only person that gave instructions to the bank’’.

Defence counsel: “Can you tell the court by what means you gave the instruction and to whom?’’

Witness: “Verbally, to the then MD of Diamond Bank, Mr Oti’’.

Defence counsel: “Was there any time your verbal instruction was reduced into writing?’’

Witness: “No’’.

Defence counsel: “So, I suggest to you that what you are telling this court is that there is no written record for the release of N1.2billion by the bank’’.

Witness: “Because of the nature of the job’’.

Defence counsel: “Look at exhibit E9 -E11’’ and mention the names of the Directors of Silva Mcnamara’’.

Witness : “Ezekwe Ikenna, Oshodi Idowu, and Adebiyi Elizabeth’’.

Defence Counsel: “Who owns House 9, Layi Bembem, Parkview. Ikoyi,’’ witness: “That is my house’’.

Ojo then said, I suggest to you that Ikenna Ezekwe lived in that house at one time or the other,”

Witness: “Correct’’.

Subsequently, Ojo sought to tender an extra judicial statement made by the then SA to Obanikoro, Mr Justin Erukaa, and the Prosecutor raised an objection.

Following the objection by the prosecution, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned the case until Feb. 6 by 9: 00 a.m., for counsel to address the court on the admissibility of an extra judicial statement.

According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount allowed by law.

He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his Zenith Bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which sum he ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain in their Zenith and FCMB accounts, the aggregate sums of N851 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Besides, the accused was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

The accused was also alleged to have used the sum of N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji, which sum he ought to know also forms crime proceeds.

The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

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The Nigerian Police will however use the uniform when in Joint Operation with the military or on special operation such as specific anti-riot missions.

The ban followed the directive of the National Security Council, as it approved the recommendations of a committee on measures to streamline the use of camouflage uniforms, in view of the security implications and concerns raised on the clamour, duplicity and proliferation of camouflage uniforms in the country.

“The use of camouflage/fatigue is therefore restricted to the military and for occasional use by the police henceforth. The directive also stipulates that the military is to adopt only 2 types of camouflage for the 3 arms of the Armed Forces.

“All para-military agencies using various camouflage/fatigues uniforms have up to January 2016 to withdraw such materials currently in their inventory,” Chris Olukolade, Major General and director, defence headquarters said in a statement on Friday.

With this development, the Ministry of Justice along with law enforcement agencies have been tasked to ensure that extant laws guiding the use of uniforms in Nigeria are strictly enforced.

In the same vein, the Office of the National Security Adviser has been vested with the authority to vet and clear any production and supply of camouflage uniforms in Nigeria.

The proliferation and imitation by criminals and impostors using uniforms especially the camouflage have been generating some concern in national security circles.

The development has been communicated to all the agencies by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

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Our correspondent gathered that the meeting which began at about 12:10 pm also had in attendance, the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Nigeria and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar and the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

The expanded National Security Council meeting was summoned by President Jonathan following the bombing in Nyanya, Abuja and the abduction of over one Hundred students from a secondary school in Borno.

However, all the absentee governors except Fashola were represented by their deputies

Deputy Governors of Jigawa, Imo, Oyo, Rivers, Kano, Ogun, Plateau, Edo and Yobe represented their governors.

Ministers in attendance at the meeting included Abba Moro of Interior; Gen. Aliyu Gusau Defence; Abduljelil Adesiyan Police Affairs, Viola Onwuleri, Foreign Affairs, Akinwunmi Adeshina Agriculture and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.

The Security chiefs in attendance were the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Airforce, as well as the Inspector General of Police, the Comptrollers General of Customs and Immigration, Corp Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corp and the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp.

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The meeting also harped on the need for cooperation between all tiers of government in fighting the security challenges in the country, rather than abandoning all the work to the Federal Government.

The Adamawa State governor had written a memo to governors of the 19 northern states, accusing the Goodluck Jonathan administration of using terrorism to cause genocide in the North.

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji; who briefed journalists alongside Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Niger State Governor; Babangida Aliyu; Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima; Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati; said government officials were cautioned against inciting the citizenry with their statements.

“The memo that was written by one of our colleagues, that is Governor Nyako of Adamawa State was discussed and there was a very unanimous condemnation of that memo.

“All officers and people in positions of authority were advised to be cautious of what they say. That what they say should at least enliven every person and make us to know that this country belongs to all of us and not something that will demoralize us, not something that will excite or incite people to go the negative way,” Gov.Orji said.

The Abia governor further said the meeting recognised that security issue is not for the Federal Government alone but “should be a cooperate issue, handled corporately by the Federal Government, State and Local Government.”

“When there is a synergy, obviously progress will be made,” he said, adding that the meeting also agreed that at the state level, governors who are chief security officers have to do a lot to help because that is where the security issue is.

“In so doing, the state governors should mobilize their radio houses in other to sensitize the people in the state so that they will be aware of this security situation”.

He said the meeting agreed that the Boko Haram menace “is not a religious war, people should not misrepresent it to be because both Muslims and Christians are being killed. It doesn’t discriminate against any person”.

Governor Fayemi also told journalists that the meeting harped on the need for information sharing between security agencies. “Data should be shared across the board amongst security agencies. Holistic approach (should be adopted) in curbing terrorist activities including the anti-poverty approaches,” he said.

He noted that the meeting focused on Chibok stating that the security agencies agreed that they will do everything possible to ensure that the abducted girls are rescued from their abductors.

Fayemi added that the meeting stressed the importance of ensuring capacity building of media organisations so that security sensitivities of those issues are addressed.

Gusau said the meeting, which was attended by state governors and heads of all military and paramilitary agencies, discussed the overall security in the country, which included the insurgency in the North-East, cattle rustling and kidnapping among others.

He said the conclusion was that the Federal Government would do everything in its power in collaboration with state and local governments as well as all Nigerians to see that the security challenges were put under control.

“The conclusion is that the Federal Government will do everything in its power in collaboration of states and local governments and everybody to see that we put it under control.

“Security is everybody’s business, it is not only the responsibility of government. Every individual should be security conscious,” the minister said.

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In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said the postponement (to Saturday, April 26) was a confirmation of the party’s stated stand to be part of all genuine efforts to end the insurgency in the country.

APC reiterated its earlier warning to the presidency and Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, not to politicise Nigeria’s security and to desist from seeking to profit from the current state of widespread insecurity in the country.

APC said that “Cunningly edging out APC governors from last Thursday’s meeting of the expanded National Security Council is a bad strategy because despite belonging to the opposition, our governors are not any less of stakeholders on the issue of our nation’s security than governors of PDP or its satellite parties.

“As a matter of fact, three of the worst hit states are presided over by APC governors, hence they are indispensable to any serious effort aimed at ending the security conundrum.”

It wondered what the governors of PDP, Labour Party and APGA could have discussed with the President at Thurs-day’s meeting that they did not want APC governors to know about.

The party said: “Every trick in the book was employed to give APC governors the impre-ssion that the meeting had been called off, only for those who believe they are the ‘real stake-holders’ to go ahead with the meeting.”

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The party in a statement by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said that reports that the governors “under the aegis of the party shunned the expanded NSC meeting called by President Goodluck Jonathan to review the security situation in the country,” was false.

The truth of the matter, according to him, was that governors of APC-controlled states were given the impression that the meeting had been called off.

“On Wednesday, the Presidency called the Chief Detail of Kwara State government to say that the meeting had been called off. On the basis of this information, which apparently got to other governors under the aegis of APC, our governors did not attend.

“Now that the meeting has been held, it is incumbent on the Presidency to launch an investigation into the source of the call to Kwara State government and what the call was meant to achieve.

“Irrespective of the totally unfounded and absolutely irresponsible allegation that the APC is behind the escalating security situation, our party will not shy away from any serious effort to end the terrorist attacks in our country. Therefore, it is not true that our governors shunned the meeting with the President.”

Earlier reports were that the expanded NSC meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan, service chiefs and heads of security agencies and the governors of the 36 states of the federation was boycotted by governors under the aegis of the APC.

Jonathan convened the meeting to review the escalating security situation in the country, in the wake of the bombing of a bus station in Nyanya and the abduction of over 100 students from a girls’ secondary school in Borno State.

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Jonathan had on Wednesday summoned all governors and National Security Council to a meeting over rising security challenges in the country.

After the President met the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar in his office earlier, they all moved to the First Lady Conference room where governors were already seated.

Governors who attended the meeting are – Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Isa Yuguda(Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe).

Others are – Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).

Also at the meeting are – Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Garba Umar (Acting Governor Taraba), Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, John Jonah and Deputy Governor of Kebbi State.

The meeting was also attended by the Defence Minister, Brigadier-General Aliyu Gusau (rtd); Director-General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

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