A former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr. Tope Aluko, has informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of how a former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, handed over $5.377m cash to Governor Ayo Fayose. Aluko spoke while being questioned by the EFCC team against the backdrop of the ongoing probe of how the ex-minister shared the N4.745billion received by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Aluko disclosed that the cash, stacked in a green military trunk by the ex-minister, was given to Fayose in the presence of nine PDP elders. He listed those who witnessed the collection by Fayose as a former Secretary to the State Government, a senator, two members of the House of Assembly, a former Director-General and others. Aluko added that after the exchange, Fayose and Obanikoro entered an inner room of Spotless Hotel for a brief discussion. Obanikoro had told the EFCC team that he gave Fayose the cash in the presence of PDP elders, including Dr. Tope Aluko. Aluko reportedly told the detectives that: The ex-minister brought the $5.377million cash to Spotless Hotel for Fayose in a green military trunk. He was accompanied by four military men. “Obanikoro handed over the trunk and a key to Fayose in the presence of nine eminent PDP elders in the state. “Holding a piece of paper, Obanikoro later entered into an inner room in the hotel for a brief discussion with Fayose. Maybe the paper was for Fayose to acknowledge the receipt of the cash. “Upon coming out, Fayose opened the trunk with the key and we all saw it was filled with dollars. We had a list of how we wanted to use the money but we had not expended the Naira cash at hand.
“Fayose, who asked me to call other PDP leaders, later took the trunk to his room at the hotel for safe keeping. That was the last we heard about the cash. A source said: “Both Obanikoro and Aluko were brought to the interrogation room by EFCC detectives. “They asked if Aluko had ever met the ex-minister, the ex-PDP Secretary in Ekiti State said: ‘Obanikoro was the liaison personnel between the Presidency and Fayose. “He confirmed that he had met with the ex-minister at a meeting in Abuja before the delivery of the money. “Aluko also admitted that he was present when Obanikoro brought the over $5.377m cash to Governor Ayo Fayose.”
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