Nigeria
Fayose’s money laundering trial is delayed due to the judge’s absence
The Federal High Court in Lagos was not in session on Friday, which prevented the money laundering trial of Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, from proceeding. The trial judge was not present.
According to reports, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke was out on official business.
The action was scheduled for trial on January 26, February 21, and February 22 at the last adjourned date.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is pursuing charges against Fayose for allegedly committing N6.9 billion in fraud and money laundering.
He and his business, Spotless Investment Ltd., were first charged on October 22, 2018, with 11 counts related to fraud and money laundering before Judge Mojisola Olatotegun.
On October 24, 2018, however, he entered a not guilty plea to the allegations and was given bail in the amount of N50 million with sureties in the same amount.
However, on July 2, 2019, the defendant was re-arrested before Judge Chukwujekwu Aneke after Olatoregun dropped the case in response to an appeal from the EFCC.
Fayose entered a not guilty plea before Aneke as well, and she permitted him to proceed with the bail that Olatoregun had given him.
Since then, the EFCC has presented witnesses in court and begun its case against Aneke.
The Commission claims that on June 17, 2014, Fayose and a certain Abiodun Agbele obtained N1.2 billion with the intention of using it to finance his bid for the governorship of Ekiti.
According to the Commission, the money was a portion of the proceeds from crime.
Additionally, it was reported that Fayose received a five million dollar cash payment directly from Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, the then-minister of state for defence, bypassing any financial institutions.
Additionally, according to the EFCC, the former governor kept N300 million in his bank account and assumed control of the whole amount of almost N622 million, which was a portion of the proceeds from crimes.
It further stated that N851 million in total, which was a portion of the proceeds from crime, was obtained by Fayose for the retention of De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd.
Additionally, the Commission charged Fayose with purchasing real estate in Lagos and Abuja with profits from crimes totaling around N1.6 billion.
In addition, it is said that the former governor utilised the N200 million earnings from his crimes to purchase an Abuja home under the name Moji Oladeji, his older sister.
Sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16 (2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 are violated by the accused acts.
