‘Obanikoro gave Fayose $5.377m in my presence’ – Aluko

Musiliu Obanikoro

A former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti, Tope Aluko says he was present when former Minister of state for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro handed Ekiti governor Ayodele Fayose the sum of $5.377million cash.

According to The Nation, Aluko made the disclosure while being interrogated by detectives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a source within the anti-graft agency, Aluko told the detectives,“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.”