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I Feel Pained Testifying against Fayose – Obanikoro

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The criminal trial of the former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, before a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court continued Monday with Musiliu Obanikoro continuing his evidence against the defendant.

Mr Obanikoro, a former minister of state for defence, at the last court sitting narrated how he was asked to pay millions of dollars of public funds to Mr Fayose.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is accusing Mr Fayose and his company, Spotless Limited, of receiving millions of dollars from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Dasuki Sambo. The monies are believed to have been meant for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram.

Continuing his evidence on Monday, the former minister said his past relationship with Mr Fayose made him a reluctant witness against the former governor.

“Yes, it is painful for me to give evidence against him,” Mr Obanikoro, who is now a member of the All Progressives Congress, said during cross-examination.

“I’m trying to restrain myself from saying things that will further damage our relationship.”

Mr Obanikoro said he was in Ado Ekiti during the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State to do the bidding of the Peoples Democratic Party, as a leader of the party.

“I was in Ado Ekiti in pursuance of his (Mr Fayose) ambition as governor in Ekiti.”

The cross-examination which lasted for about four hours saw Mr Obanikoro clarifying some of the roles he played during the Ekiti 2014 election including as it relates to disbursement of funds from the federal government.

He denied that his properties had been seized by the EFCC during the early days of his interrogation before he agreed to appear as the prosecution witness, describing the story as a means for the media to “sell their papers.”.

“At no point was any of my property confiscated during the investigation to the best of my knowledge,” Mr Obanikoro said.

“The newspaper reports on confiscation of my properties can be said to be wrong. They were selling their papers.”

He, however, admitted that he forfeited some funds to the EFCC.

On his activities for Sylvan Mcmanara, a company he was said to have paid monies to for contracts that were never executed by the NSA in 2016, Mr Obanikoro said he does not have any relationship with the company other than the “supervisory role” he played.

“I was the one who introduced the company to the NSA when the need arose and approval was given.”

He also told the court that prior to the NSA paying the sum of N200 million to the company’s account, the account balance of Sylvan Mcmanara as at May 31, 2014, was N74,299.

The company’s statement of account read before the court showed that prior to 2014 when monies were paid by NSA into the account, Gbolahan Obanikoro, Mr Obanikoro’s son, had made a payment of N20,000 and N5 million on the May 18th, 2012, and in September 2012 respectively to the account. Mr Obanikoro, himself, also made deposits to the account.

When asked questions about the purpose of the funds sent out of the Sylvan Mcmanara account after N200 million naira was paid into it on the 5th of June 2014 and who authorised the payouts; Mr Obanikoro said he was sure it was done for the benefit of Mr Fayose.

While reading from a statement he made to the EFCC in 2016, Mr Obanikoro said he converted some of the funds to dollars at the instance of Mr Fayose.

“We had a dollar content to the amount given to Fayose and naira content. I can’t recall piece by piece how we came by the dollar. I said it earlier that when sourcing for forex, what we look at is the credibility and not the name of the company.”

On why he agreed to refund N200 million to the EFCC, Mr Obanikoro said it was a “reluctant agreement because I even said in the statement (to the EFCC) that I deserve a medal for successfully protecting Lagos.

“It is not correct to say that I used the N200 million the way it ought not to and that’s why I agreed to a refund because it was disbursed with the intention of securing Lagos which is also stated in my statement.”

Mojisola Olatoregun, the judge, adjourned the trial till February 5 (today) for the continuation of cross-examination.

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Natasha Disowns Viral TikTok Video Praising Tinubu

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The Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has distanced herself from a viral TikTok video that surfaced online showing her dancing to “Omo Ologo”, a song in praise of President Bola Tinubu.

In a public disclaimer released via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Akpoti-Uduaghan denied owning any TikTok account, warning the public against being misled by parody accounts across various social media platforms.

“I do not own a TikTok account,” she posted.

“Many parody accounts exist in my name on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Some have garnered large followings.”

She clarified that the circulating video was manipulated from an old 2023 clip and repurposed with “mischievous intent” to mislead the public.

“While I hold the President in utmost respect, I’d urge everyone to disregard the mischievous post made using an old 2023 video of mine,” she stated.

The video, sound-tracked by “Omo Ologo”, a praise song performed by Dauda Kahutu Rarara at a recent event attended by Tinubu in Katsina, appeared to depict the senator aligning herself with the president’s camp.

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Court Hands EFCC Three Days Ultimatum to Conclude 10-Year-Old Corruption Charges Against Dasuki

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Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted three consecutive days to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conclude the ten-year-old corruption charges it instituted against a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Dasuki’s counsel initiated legal arguments when he challenged the status of the subpoena because it was issued to the DSS as an entity not recognised by the law of the country.

The EFCC lawyer, however, countered the objection, insisting that DSS was a creation of statute and that there had been no confusion in the identity of the organisation.

“The document was duly served on Department of State Security (DSS). The Department has no confusion as to its identity.

“The witness did not exhibit any confusion as to his invitation by the Court. The objection as to form does not defeat the end of Justice. We humbly pray the Court not to sustain the objection in the interest of substantial justice.”

In the end, Justice Lifu admitted the subpoena as an exhibit and reserved his ruling to be delivered along with the main charge.

“I have carefully and painstakingly listened to learned counsel on the admissibility of the document sought to be tendered by the prosecution.

“I have also perused the document in relation to the name on the said subpoena. Admissibility of documentary evidence is governed by the law of evidence, and it is determined by relevancy.

“Being a criminal case which is about 10 years old in the docket of this court, coupled with the fact that ACJA 2015 envisages speedy dispensation of criminal justice, this document shall be admitted and a ruling shall be incorporated into the final judgement of this court,” said Justice Lifu.

The judge drew the attention of the parties to the fact that the case had dragged and suffered delay for ten years, having been filed in 2015.

At the proceedings, the first prosecution witness and exhibit keeper with the DSS, Monsur Mohammed, was permitted to give evidence on the strength of the subpoena.

He subsequently presented several items found in Dasuki’s properties at 13 John Khadije Street, Asokoro, Abuja; 46 Nelson Mandela Street, Asokoro Abuja; Sabon Birnin Road, Sokoto; and Sultan Abubakar Road, also in Sokoto.

Four different search warrants executed in July 2015 at the four properties led to the recovery of the undisclosed items.

In the end, the DSS exhibit keeper admitted that nothing incriminating was found on the properties.

After the evidence, Justice Lifu held that in the circumstances of the case and by consent of all counsel, “this suit is hereby adjourned to 7, 8 and 9 July 2025 at the instance of the Court for further hearing.

He added: “The learned prosecutor is expected to close his case on these adjourned dates.”

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Tinubu in Anambra, Pleads for Patience, Understanding Amid Hardship

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President Bola Tinubu has issued a passionate call for unity, resilience, and renewed patriotism, urging Nigerians to stand firm behind ongoing reforms aimed at rebuilding the country’s economic foundation.

Speaking during a grand reception in Awka, Anambra State, on the occasion of his state visit, President Tinubu acknowledged the current challenges facing the nation but assured the people that the hard choices were necessary for lasting prosperity.

“We continue to plead with Nigerians for their patience and understanding,” Tinubu appealed.

“We call on all patriots and progressives to rise and continue to work hard every day for the greatness of our dear country. We have no other country but Nigeria. We must make it great as the pride of the black race.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development, citing progress made in economic reform, infrastructure investment, and improved public finance management.

“We met near-insolvent public finance… unsustainable multiple subsidies… a chaotic and debilitating forex regime. These monsters have been tackled,” he said.

Highlighting renewed investor confidence and growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology, Tinubu said the “Renewed Hope Agenda” was already yielding visible results.

He particularly commended Anambra for leading in innovation and development, referencing the commissioning of the Solution Fun City and Government House Mini-City as signs of progress.

Describing Governor Chukwuma Soludo as “a brilliant man” and “a thinker who knows the way,” Tinubu added: “We are working together for a better Anambra and Nigeria.”

The president also praised Anambra State for fully implementing and even surpassing the new national minimum wage, calling it “a signal of true leadership and compassion for the working class.”

Asserting the federal government’s commitment to equitable development, Tinubu promised increased investment in roads, power, rail, and digital infrastructure across all regions, including the Southeast.

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