Obanikoro said this in his testimony at Fayose’s trial, which is still going on. The EFCC is trying Fayose for an alleged fraud of N4.6 billion.
He said that the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) had set aside N2.2 billion to help Fayose win the governorship of Ekiti State in 2014.
The prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), put the witness on the stand. The witness said that the money came from the NSA’s impress account and went to Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited.
He said, “EFCC invited me in 2016, and I came in from the United States of America but was incarcerated for 21 days, even when there is a presumption of innocence in law when an allegation like this arises.
“Yes, a letter of complaint was written from the office of the National Security Adviser but I believe that it was written out of ignorance because after all the investigations, common sense prevailed and I was exonerated.”
During Mr Olalekan Ojo’s (SAN) cross-examination, the witness tried to distance himself from Silver Maclamaran, the company account used to store the N2.2bn.
Olalekan also asked him what he knew about a Committee for Fundraising for the Governorship Election in Ekiti State in 2014.
Obanikoro said, “Yes, I was the chairman of the Committee and a lot of funds were contributed even up to the national level of our party.”
When asked if he could remember the names of any of the people on the committee to raise money, he said, “I can remember T. K. Aluko and Lateef Agbaje.”
When asked if he was a signatory on the accounts of Silver Maclamaran Nigeria Limited, the company that got the money from the NSA office, he said no. He noted that Olalekan Olalere was the person who signed up for the company.
Justice Aneke adjourned the trial until March 20 and 21.
The charge says that on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Abiodun Agbele illegally took possession of N1.2 billion to pay for his campaign for governor in Ekiti.
Fayose is also said to have gotten $5 million (about N1.8 billion) in cash from Obanikoro without going through a bank.
He is also accused of keeping N300 million in a bank account without permission and misappropriating N622 million.
The EFCC said the former governor should have known that the money came from the proceeds of a crime.
It was also said that the defendants got De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd. to keep N851 million without permission.
It was alleged that Fayose spent around N1.6 billion in criminal proceeds to buy properties in Lagos and Abuja.
The panel also accuses Fayose of acquiring a home in Abuja in the name of his older sister, Moji Oladeji, using N200 million in criminal proceeds.
Fayose said he wasn’t guilty, so he is free on bail.