Alleged N3.3bn Fraud: Absence Of EFCC Witness Stalls Fayose’s Trial

The ongoing trial of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose over an alleged N2.2bn fraud was on Monday stalled due to the absence of a star witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro.

Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the EFCC informed the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos That the former Minister could not attend court because he is currently out of the country.

Also during the proceedings, Justice Aneke granted Fayose leave to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The former governor, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited, is facing an 11-count charge of criminal breach of trust, theft and stealing of public funds.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele, who is also standing trial on alleged money laundering offences before another division of the court, on June 17, 2014, took possession of N1.219 billion, to fund his 2014 governorship campaign in Ekiti State.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Obanikoro, the 13th prosecution, who began his evidence on January 31, is still undergoing cross examination by the defence.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, Jacobs informed the court that he was informed by one of the aides to Obanikoro that he was out of the country.

The lawyer urged the court to grant an adjournment to the already existing dates in June.

This application for adjournment was not opposed by the Fayose counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN) but the lawyer to the second defendant, Olakekan Ojo (SAN) said that if “the trend continues on the next adjourned date”, he would have no choice but to make the “necessary application.”