The trial former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, before a Federal High Court Lagos, was stalled on Monday, following the absence of the 12th prosecution witness, Musiliu Obanikoro, who is still undergoing cross examination by the defence.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged fraud and money laundering charges.
The former governor was first arraigned on Oct. 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The defendant was, however, subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.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.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
