The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, adjourned the trial of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, until May 8, 2023. Justice Chukujekwu Aneke halted the proceedings after hearing the testimony of the twelfth prosecution witness, former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. The head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement obtained by our correspondent.
On Tuesday, July 2, 2019, the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission re‑arraigned Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on an 11‑count charge involving money laundering and the alleged theft of N6.9 billion. The defendants were initially arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.
During the resumed hearing, Senator Obanikoro testified that he possessed no document showing he withdrew the N1.2 billion he allegedly gave Fayose. He explained that, under cross‑examination by counsel for the second defendant, Olakekan Ojo SAN, he never presented any evidence to EFCC operatives indicating he had instructed or withdrawn the sum from the Diamond Bank account of Sylva McNamara Limited. Obanikoro had previously told the court that the N1.2 billion was deposited into Sylva McNamara’s account in two instalments to fund “clandestine security operations” aimed at preventing terrorist activities in Lagos State.
When asked whether he could produce a board resolution authorising him to manage Sylva McNamara’s account, Obanikoro replied that he had none, nor any letter from the company to Diamond Bank granting him such authority. He also stated that former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki had no interaction with Fayose or Diamond Bank regarding the withdrawn funds. According to Obanikoro, the EFCC cleared him of any wrongdoing after its investigations.
Regarding a refund to the EFCC, Obanikoro confirmed he had repaid money as a condition of his release, estimating the amount to be between N100 million and N200 million. He added that in his line of business it is not customary to request receipts or acknowledgements for such large sums, so no formal confirmation existed for the money allegedly given to Fayose.
The case has been adjourned to May 8‑9 and June 6‑8, 2023 for further trial proceedings.
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