July 04, (THEWILL) – The trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, over money laundering at a Federal High Court in Lagos did not take place on Monday as scheduled due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
A new date will be decided by the parties involved in the case in due course
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money laundering and a N6.9billion fraud. He was first arraigned on Oct. 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on an 11-count charge.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, he former governor and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his governorship election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds from crime.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of $5 million (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million, which sum he reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds from crime.
Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain the aggregate sums of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Besides, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sums 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.
He was also alleged to have used N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of a member of his family.
The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.
During the trial, the prosecution had called witnesses from several commercial banks, as well as a former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.
Fayose pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
He was subsequently, re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.
He had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.
The commission has since opened its case before Justice Aneke and it is still leading witnesses in evidence.
In December 2021, the EFCC had called its 11th witness, one Mrs Joanne Tolulope, who had narrated how Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose, bought properties worth several millions.
Trial will continue on another date.
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