EFCC Re-Arraigns Fayose Before New Judge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday re-arraigned former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, before a Federal High Court in Lagos over N6.9 billion money laundering and fraud charges.

Fayose, however, pleaded not guilty before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, who granted him leave to travel overseas for medical examination.

The EFCC first arraigned Fayose on Oct. 22. 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd. on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

The prosecution opened its case on Nov. 19, 2018, and had called 13 of the 15 witnesses it listed, when the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati transferred the case from Olatoregun to Aneke, following a petition by the EFCC.

The witnesses included a former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.

Fayose was billed for re-arraignment before Aneke on June 28, but the prosecution prayed the court to adjourn the case.

After the re-arraignment on Tuesday, defence counsel, Mr Ola Olanipekun (SAN), prayed the court to allow Fayose to continue with the bail conditions granted by Olatoregun.

His application was not opposed by prosecution counsel, Mr Adebisi Adeniyi.

Consequently, Aneke granted the application.

Olanipekun also moved a motion seeking leave for Fayose to travel to South Africa for medical examination during the court’s long vacation scheduled to start in July.

The application was also not opposed by the prosecution.

Aneke also granted the application and ordered temporary release of Fayose’s international passport.

The court, however, ordered that the passport should be returned on or before Sept. 16

He adjourned the case until Sept. 16 for trial.