The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has uncovered another $5m
(N1.040billion) cash allegedly given to Governor Ayo Fayose by former
Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro.
This cash is said to be part of the N4.7bn slush funds traced to Obanikoro’s firm, Sylva McNamara.
Out of the $5 million, EFCC’s investigation has shown how Fayose allegedly gave Abiodun Agbele over $1million as part-payment for the acquisition of four chalets in Lagos.It was learnt by The Nation that that bubble burst when Agbele took the $1m to a Bureau De Change (BDC) man, Ahmed Uba, who transferred the cash to Still Earth as part-payment for the properties.
Also, EFCC has grilled Ekiti State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Kolapo Kolade, who admitted that he facilitated the agreements for the four properties.
Kolade, who may face EFCC interrogators on August 30, said he was paid N1million for the job.
A source in the agency who is part of the investigation of Fayose for allegedly receiving N1.219bn from Obanikoro, also revealed that he got another $5m cash (N1.040billion) from the ex-minister.
“Our investigation so far has shown that out of the $5m Fayose gave Agbele $1million which Agbele gave to a BDC operator who transferred the money to Still Earth as part-payment for the properties bought.
“Going through the accounts of Fayose, you could see a lot of transactions. Kolapo Kolade , now a commissioner in Fayose’s cabinet was the one who arranged the agreement between Still Earth and J.J. Technical.
“We have interrogated the owner of the BDC Jamil Uba, who told us how he asked his staff to attend to Agbele. Jamil said ‘I instructed Abba Ahmed Uba to transfer the money into Still Earth accounts because Abba Ahmed Uba was working under me that day when Agbele sold $1million at the rate of N208, which is equivalent of N208million.”
The EFCC team has also discovered that one of the firms used for the purchase of the properties, J.J. Technicals Limited, was not in the picture until the owners were invited for questioning.
The source said: “Agbele got Maroun Mechleb, a Lebanese and contractor to the Ekiti State Government to provide a company, J.J. Technicals Services Limited whose name was used in making the agreement for the sale of the four chalets in Victoria Island by Still Earth.
“J.J. Technicals Services belongs to Maroun Mechleb’s junior brother, Joseph and his brother-in-law. They gave him the company’s document to help them prospect for contracts in Ekiti State. He gave the company’s document to Agbele without their knowledge.”
The two Lebanese, Joseph and Maroum Mechleb have told the EFCC that they had nothing to do with the purchase of the four properties in Lagos.
The source quoted Maroun Mechleb as saying: “I also saw an agreement with my signature between Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited for the sum of $1.1m. I am not aware of the agreement even though my signature appears on it. The agreement is between Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited and J.J . Technical Services. My brother who owns the company does not know anything about the whole agreement with Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited.”
According to the source, Joseph Mechleb said: “I did not know that the company was used to buy any property. I don’t know of any property(ies) that J.J. Technical Services bought. I hear of Fayose but have never heard of Biodun Agbele.
“I don’t know of any company with the name, Still Earth. I got to know of a property that was bought with J.J. Technical Services few weeks ago when our manager told me that the EFCC has invited me to Abuja. I am not a signatory to the said account.
“I don’t know the said property. I don’t know where it is located . I have never heard of any property purchased with J.J. Technicals before.
“I have not done any project in Ekiti State before. I only go visiting and sight-seeing. I visit our site in Imore, Ikere Road. I don’t visit Fayose in Ekiti. It is Maroun that works in Ekiti State.”
This cash is said to be part of the N4.7bn slush funds traced to Obanikoro’s firm, Sylva McNamara.
Out of the $5 million, EFCC’s investigation has shown how Fayose allegedly gave Abiodun Agbele over $1million as part-payment for the acquisition of four chalets in Lagos.It was learnt by The Nation that that bubble burst when Agbele took the $1m to a Bureau De Change (BDC) man, Ahmed Uba, who transferred the cash to Still Earth as part-payment for the properties.
Also, EFCC has grilled Ekiti State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Kolapo Kolade, who admitted that he facilitated the agreements for the four properties.
Kolade, who may face EFCC interrogators on August 30, said he was paid N1million for the job.
A source in the agency who is part of the investigation of Fayose for allegedly receiving N1.219bn from Obanikoro, also revealed that he got another $5m cash (N1.040billion) from the ex-minister.
“Our investigation so far has shown that out of the $5m Fayose gave Agbele $1million which Agbele gave to a BDC operator who transferred the money to Still Earth as part-payment for the properties bought.
“Going through the accounts of Fayose, you could see a lot of transactions. Kolapo Kolade , now a commissioner in Fayose’s cabinet was the one who arranged the agreement between Still Earth and J.J. Technical.
“We have interrogated the owner of the BDC Jamil Uba, who told us how he asked his staff to attend to Agbele. Jamil said ‘I instructed Abba Ahmed Uba to transfer the money into Still Earth accounts because Abba Ahmed Uba was working under me that day when Agbele sold $1million at the rate of N208, which is equivalent of N208million.”
The EFCC team has also discovered that one of the firms used for the purchase of the properties, J.J. Technicals Limited, was not in the picture until the owners were invited for questioning.
The source said: “Agbele got Maroun Mechleb, a Lebanese and contractor to the Ekiti State Government to provide a company, J.J. Technicals Services Limited whose name was used in making the agreement for the sale of the four chalets in Victoria Island by Still Earth.
“J.J. Technicals Services belongs to Maroun Mechleb’s junior brother, Joseph and his brother-in-law. They gave him the company’s document to help them prospect for contracts in Ekiti State. He gave the company’s document to Agbele without their knowledge.”
The two Lebanese, Joseph and Maroum Mechleb have told the EFCC that they had nothing to do with the purchase of the four properties in Lagos.
The source quoted Maroun Mechleb as saying: “I also saw an agreement with my signature between Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited for the sum of $1.1m. I am not aware of the agreement even though my signature appears on it. The agreement is between Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited and J.J . Technical Services. My brother who owns the company does not know anything about the whole agreement with Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited.”
According to the source, Joseph Mechleb said: “I did not know that the company was used to buy any property. I don’t know of any property(ies) that J.J. Technical Services bought. I hear of Fayose but have never heard of Biodun Agbele.
“I don’t know of any company with the name, Still Earth. I got to know of a property that was bought with J.J. Technical Services few weeks ago when our manager told me that the EFCC has invited me to Abuja. I am not a signatory to the said account.
“I don’t know the said property. I don’t know where it is located . I have never heard of any property purchased with J.J. Technicals before.
“I have not done any project in Ekiti State before. I only go visiting and sight-seeing. I visit our site in Imore, Ikere Road. I don’t visit Fayose in Ekiti. It is Maroun that works in Ekiti State.”
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