The eleventh witness presented by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday in the trial of former Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said he saw someone who looked like Musiliu Obanikoro accompany an aircraft loaded with money.
The witness, Sunday Alade, was the Akure branch manager of Zenith Bank Plc in 2014 when N1.2 billion was allegedly moved to the branch.
Fayose is facing 11-count charge of money laundering.
Obanikoro had testified as fifth prosecution witness against Fayose.
Mr Alade, who was led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said he received a telephone call from the bank’s head of operations on June 17, 2014, asking him to head to Akure airport to receive an amount of money from a customer.
Alade said: “At the airport, we waited for a few minutes before the arrival of the aircraft. Three individuals came out of the aircraft. Two of them walked away. The remaining person introduced himself as O. Adewale. The cash was offloaded into the bullion van, and we drove to Zenith Bank, Akure.
“The money was counted. It was N724 million. We were informed that there was a balance. We went back to the airport and picked N494 million. The total cash amounted to N1.219 billion. Another aircraft brought the N494 million. I gathered that the cash was lodged into three bank accounts – those of De-Privateer, Spotless Investment and Ayodele Fayose.”
When asked by the prosecution counsel, who Adewale was, the witness said, “Adewale O. introduced himself as Obanikoro’s ADC.”
Asked if he knew those who walked away from the aircraft when it landed, the witness said, “One of them resembled Obanikoro. I never met him in person, but he resembled the person I saw on television and newspapers.”
The case was adjourned until May 10 for continuation.
