Trial on the alleged N6.9 billion fraud against former Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose at the Federal High Court, Lagos state, was on Thursday stalled following absence of the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge is said to be away attending a conference. Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering involving N6.9 billion while serving as governor.
Also charged alongside Fayose, was Abiodun Agbele, the ex-governor’s aide accused of assisting his boss in carting away part of the missing funds.
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He was first arraigned on Oct. 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on an 11-count charge. 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The defendant was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on July 2, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition on unsatisfactory handling of the case.
Fayose also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to enjoy his bail while the case was adjourned until Nov. 28 for trial. The trial however, could not progress as slated as the court did not sit and a new date has yet to be fixed for the trial.
At the last three adjournments, EFCC had called Lawrence Akande, Abiodun Oshode and Johnson Abidakun to testify as prosecution witnesses.
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