Alleged N6.9bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-Ekiti Gov, Fayose

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Office, on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, re-arraigned a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and stealing to the tune of N6.9billion (Six Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira).

Fayose was arraigned alongside one of his firms, Spotless Investment Limited, for the alleged fraud, a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC Tony Orilade said.

The former governor was first arraigned on October 22, 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun alongside a company, Spotless Investment Limited, on an 11-counts bordering on stealing and money laundering.

Following the commencement of the trial before Justice Olatoregun,the prosecution had some witnesses, including a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

However, the Commission subsequently wrote a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, seeking the transfer of the case from Justice Olatoregun to Justice Aneke.

At today’s sitting, Fayose pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the EFCC.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, asked the court for a trial date.

In his response, Fayose’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, pleaded with the court to allow his client to continue to enjoy the bail terms and conditions granted him by Justice Olatoregun.

The prosecution, however, did not oppose the prayer of the defence.

In his ruling, Justice Aneke held that “The defendant is hereby allowed to continue to enjoy the bail on same terms and conditions granted him by Justice Olatoregun.”

The defence counsel also moved a motion seeking leave of the court for Fayose to travel to South Africa for medical examination during the court’s long vacation scheduled to start in July, the statement said.

Justice Aneke ordered the temporary release of the international passport of the first defendant, Fayose.

The Judge also ordered that the passport be returned to the court “on or before September 16, 2019.”

The case was adjourned to September 16 and 19, 2019 and October 21 and 25, 2019, the statement added.