BEVERLY HILLS, October 17, (THEWILL) – A former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has returned to Nigeria and has reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Obanikoro, who arrived Lagos from the United States on Monday, headed to Abuja to keep the scheduled appointment with the commission and was accompanied by eight associates and friends to the Office of the EFCC around 1pm on Monday.
The Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Obanikoro had reported to the commission saying “The former Minister of State for Defence is with the commission.”
He was accused of being the ‘transporter’ in the alleged money-sharing deal that aided Ayodele Fayose in the Ekiti state governorship election of 2014.
Obanikoro was also accused of allegedly conniving with his children, Babajide Obanikoro and Gbolahan Obanikoro, to secure government contracts without executing them; but has denied the accusations.
He left the country for the United States after former President Goodluck Jonathan, lost his re-election bid in 2015.
THEWILL recalls that EFCC officials raided his residence in June which led to an outburst from him challenging the anti-graft body to extradite him from the USA insisting that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were being harassed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His wife was interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) a month later for alleged corruption, which further irked Obanikoro, revealing that his wife had a medical condition.
“The invasion and raid of my residence yesterday by agents of the state is a sad throwback to a tyrannical past that is better forgotten,” he said.
“In 16 years of democracy, we thought we had conquered despotism for good in Nigeria but in one year, this government has brought it back. Let me reiterate clearly: I have never received any invitation from EFCC over any issue up till date. This invasion therefore is premature.
“For emphasis, the innocent woman has a history of High Blood Pressure and heart-related ailments and as such should not be dragged into their biased and politicised investigations.
“We have absolute confidence in the judiciary and we hope to get justice in the course with the proviso that they obey the rule of Law and avoid arbitrariness that we are seeing on daily basis.”
Story by Oputah David
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