Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of a former Minister of State for Defence,
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has cried out that he is being witch-hunted
by perceived enemies as he says he never received stolen funds as
alleged by authorities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
While agreeing that he has houses in the United Kingdom, the United
States and Nigeria, Gholahan said all the allegations leveled against
him by the EFCC were lies.
Punch reports that Gbolahan and his brother, Babajide, are
currently under investigation by the EFCC because a company, Sylvan
McNamara Limited, which they once headed, allegedly received N4.75bn
from the Central Bank of Nigeria Imprest Account of the National
Security Adviser under Sambo Dasuki between June 6, 2014 and December,
12, 2015.
Responding via an online interview, Gbolahan quashed all the
allegations. When asked to respond to a report by Sahara Reporters that
he bought a house in 2014 as soon as the funds were transferred to
Sylvan McNamara, Gbolahan said, “And this house, according to Sahara
Reporters, also is a hideout. It’s just silly. I bought a house in the
United Kingdom in 2008.
“I built my house in Nigeria in 2010 and I opted to buy a house
in the United States in 2014 during which period my wife had our third
child. My focus for almost a decade has always been on business and the
private sector and not politics.
“I have been working hard and I have been fortunate to run a
successful business. So it is definitely not out of place for me, and it
is most certainly not a crime to buy a house. I’m truly grateful to
Almighty Allah for all he has bestowed on me and my family.”
He also denied reports linking him to a director's position in the
said company, although he admitted working there but resigned before the
money was allegedly transferred.
Gbolahan said, “I am not and was never a director of this
company and neither am I a signatory to its account or any other account
related to the entity. My involvement with this company ended as far
back as 2013 before all these things happened and before my father was
even appointed as a minister.
“So, any dealings that transpired after that did not involve
me. The bank is available to confirm who the signatories to the account
are, and the Corporate Affairs Commission is also available to confirm
who the directors of the company are. I am positive the authorities, if
they are investigating this matter, will discover this.”
He said the government should stop witch-hunting his family as he drummed support for the president's anti-corruption crusade.
He said, “I have no problems with it at all. I believe it’s
every Nigerian’s desire for corruption to be eradicated or at least
significantly reduced. Steps have been taken in the past, steps will be
taken now, and further steps will be taken even after President Buhari’s
administration.”
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