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Absence of Judge stalls Fayose’s trial

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose

The absence of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Lagos means the alleged money laundering trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Peter Ayodele Fayose, suffered a setback.

He was said to be on an official assignment.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, is prosecuting Fayose for alleged ₦6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.

On October 22, 2018, he was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun together with his firm, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts of fraud and money laundering.

He pled not guilty to the allegations and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the amount of ₦50 million with sureties in the same amount.

The ex-Governor was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the matter was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun due to the EFCC’s plea.

He also pleaded not guilty to the allegations and was permitted to remain on the prior bail while the case was adjourned for trial.

The anti-graft agency has subsequently filed a case before Justice Aneke and is continuing presenting evidence.

According to the allegation, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were accused of taking possession of N1.2 billion to fund his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti, which they reasonably should have known was part of criminal profits.

Fayose was accused of receiving a cash payment of $5 million from the then-Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through a financial institution.

He was also accused of using N200 million to buy a home in Abuja in the name of his elder sister Moji Oladeji, a sum he should be aware of as part of criminal profits.

The offences contravene 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.

However, July 1 has been fixed for the continuation of trial.

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