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EFCC Releases Former Minister, Obanikoro

Published

7 years ago

November 4, 2016

A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, his lawyer confirmed on Friday.

Mr. Obanikoro’s associate, Demola Olarewaju, also confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES, saying “he has been released and now resting in Abuja”.

The Punch newspaper reported that Mr. Obanikoro was released at about 5p.m. Friday. He immediately left for his residence, the paper said.

Mr. Obanikoro was detained on October 17 after returning from the United States to submit himself to the EFCC on fraud allegations.

EFCC sources told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Obanikoro paid N100 million to the commission out of the over N800 million of public funds he was accused of spending.

The source said the former minister’s passports were confiscated.

But his lawyer, Mr. Onoja told PREMIUM TIMES that the passports would be returned to his client anytime he requests for them.

“Well, we have presented all the guarantors and perfected his bail conditions, so the passports seizure shouldn’t be a big deal,” Mr. Onoja said. “If he intends to travel, he will apply for it and they will return them back to him.”

Mr. Obanikoro was joined in the custody by other officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, is still being detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft office, as well as former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, and a former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed.

They face various allegations of financial wrongdoing