The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday detained former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, shortly after his return to Nigeria from the United States of America.
Obanikoro reported to the commission at about 1.20 pm and is reported to have passed the night with the anti-graft agency.
The interrogation which commenced at 3pm is expected to continue on Tuesday.
Premium Times quotes James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lead counsel to Obanikoro, as saying the former minister “submitted himself to them (EFCC) upon returning to the country this morning. Unfortunately, he won’t be out again today.”
Onoja said his client has written a statement and informed investigators all that he believed transpired.
“He told them all he knew in his statement, so we hope he’ll be released tomorrow.”
He, however, added that “If he’s not released, then we’ll have to do the needful. At least we have the courts and this is still a country that should be governed by the rule of law.”
Obanikoro arrived the country in the early hours of Monday, saying he returned home to clear himself of corruption allegations.
He has been having a running battle with the anti-graft agency for several months on charges bordering on financial crimes.
He left for the US shortly after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the 2015 elections and he ceased being a minister.
The EFCC accused him of using his sons, Gbolahan and Jide, to take out government contracts worth about N4.7 billion that were never executed.
Obanikoro has also been implicated in the Ekiti elections scandal where soldiers allegedly connived with the then PDP candidate, Ayodele Fayose, to manipulate the elections.
Fayose later won the election against the incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kayode Fayemi.
Obanikoro alleges persecution by the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government to discredit him, his family and his political party.
