Court Resumes Fayose’s Trial Today, Feb 7
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos will today, February 7, 2019 continue the trial of Mr Ayodele Fayose, immediate past Governor of Ekiti, over the alleged N6.9 billion fraud charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)
The case, earlier fixed for Tuesday, February 5 for continuation of cross examination of the fifth prosecution witness, was however shifted to Thursday.
Both prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and the defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), are scheduled to address the court on the admissibility of an extra judicial statement made by a party, who is not standing trial.
Fayose was arraigned by the EFCC in October 22, 2018, alongside a company Spotless Investment Ltd on 11 counts charge. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court granted him bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in like sum.
EFCC, which opened case for the prosecution on November 19, 2018, had called four witnesses. Also, the prosecution, on January 21, 2019, called former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musliu Obanikoro as its fifth witness.
At the last adjourned date on February 5 (Tuesday), Obanikoro was still under cross examination by second defence counsel Olalekan Ojo, expected to continue on the next adjourned date.
According to the charge, Fayose and Agbele were on June 17, 2014, alleged to have taken possession of about N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti; an amount they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
The former governor allegedly received a cash payment of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount allowed by law.
He was also alleged to have retained N300 million in his Zenith Bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which he ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Again, Fayose is accused of procuring De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain in their Zenith and FCMB accounts, the aggregate sums of N851 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Similarly, the accused allegedly used the aggregate sum of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Also, he is alleged to have deployed the sum of N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji, which sum he ought to know also forms crime proceeds.
The offences contravened Sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011. – NAN
