Alleged N6.9bn Fraud: "Law Should Take Course”, Analyst Reacts as Obanikoro Testifies Against Fayose

Alleged N6.9bn Fraud: "Law Should Take Course”, Analyst Reacts as Obanikoro Testifies Against Fayose

  • The trial of a former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, over an alleged N6.9bn fraud, is ongoing
  • Recently, Nigeria’s former minister of state for defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, told a federal high court in Abuja that Fayose received over N6.9 billion in election funds while serving in office
  • Speaking in an interview with Legit.ng, a political analyst, Adigun Muse, said the allegation is distasteful, especially considering the hardship in Nigeria

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 6-year-experience covering politics in Nigeria

Ikoyi, Lagos state - Adigun Muse, a former head of the political science department at the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), has said the alleged laundering of N6.9 billion by former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, "shows the extent of rottenness" in the Nigerian system.

Read also

“Family affair”: EFCC arraigns Enugu couple for N2.75 million fraud, shares photo, other details

Speaking in an interview with Legit.ng, the Nigerian university lecturer said the law should take its full course if the allegation is true.

EFCC/Fayose
The EFCC is prosecuting Fayose over a controversial fund in 2014. Photo credits: @GovAyoFayose, @MObanikoro
Source: Twitter

According to him, if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain is convicted, it "will serve as a deterrent".

He said:

"The EFCC's allegation against Fayose shows the extent of rottenness in our socioeconomic and political life as a people.
"This is happening in a nation where a greater percentage of our people are living from hand to mouth.
"The law should take its full course if the allegation is found to be true. Such an action will serve as a deterrent to other would-be corrupt government officials."

N1.2bn airlifted to Fayose in 2014, Obanikoro alleges

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Obanikoro told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the federal high court, Abuja, how the alleged inability of a defunct commercial bank (Diamond Bank) to disburse huge sums of money prompted the airlifting of N1.219 billion cash to Fayose for the governorship election in the state.

Read also

Breaking: 'War' in PDP as Atiku, top governor scramble for control, report

Legit.ng reports that Fayose is facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited.

They were accused of involvement in N6.9 billion money laundering.

I won't run away from Nigeria - Fayose

Legit.ng also reported that Fayose said he would not abscond from Nigeria when his immunity from criminal prosecution elapsed in October 2018.

Fayose’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said he had talks with the governor over his future without immunity. Olayinka said Fayose would not leave the country as rumoured in some quarters.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola avatar

Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng and a certified journalist with over 9 years of experience. He edited Politics Nigeria's articles, was the Acting Editor of AllNews Nigeria and Fact-Checking Researcher (Africa Check). He received his HND in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic Ibadan. He received a Certificate of Achievement (Journalism Clinic’s Fix The Leak masterclass, 2021) and also completed Google News Initiative's Advance digital reporting curriculum. Contact him at ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.