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Money Laundering: Judge’s absence stalls Fayose’s trial
Money Laundering: Judge’s absence stalls Fayose’s trial
By Francesca Hangeior
A Federal High Court sitting at Ikoyi Lagos has adjourned till July 1, 2024 in the money laundering trial of a former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose due to the absence of the trial Judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
According to Court officials, Justice Aneke is out on official assignment necessitating the adjournment.
However, the tentative date for the next sitting is July 1, 2024.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with Spotless Investment Ltd on 11 counts of N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.
Fayose was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before another trial judge, Mojisola Olatoregun.
The case was withdrawn from Ms Olatoregun, following a petition by the EFCC.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
When the defendants were re-arraigned before the new judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, Mr Fayose, again, pleaded not guilty before Aneke who allowed him to continue on the bail granted him by Justice Olatoregun.
The EFCC has since opened its case before the new judge and has been calling its witnesses.
According to the charges filed by the commission, Fayose and one of his aides, Abiodun Agbele, on 17 June 2014, took unlawful possession of N1.2 billion to fund his governorship election campaign in Ekiti State.
The commission alleged that the sum formed part of the crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622 million which sum he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
It added that Mr Fayose got De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd. to retain aggregate sums of N851 million which formed part of crime proceeds.
The defendant was also alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
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Edo guber: LP’s Akpata remains a front runner, set to capture Edo
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Less than twenty-four hours to the start of voting in Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, a rash of fake news has broken out.
Leading parties in the election have had their fair shares of fake news either indicating the withdrawal of their candidates or disqualification by a Magistrate Court or Supreme Court.
For instance, Olumide Akpata of LP was said to have withdrawn from the race and thrown his support for Asue Ighodalo in a statement that read smoothly and appeared convincing.
THE CONCLAVE sent the statement to Akpata via WhatsApp for confirmed.
He responded by sending the same statement with FAKE NEWS boldly stamped on it.
He said he was set for victory at the poll.
There was also a news flash about the Supreme Court disqualifying Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, with a sign off: More details coming….
A Magistrate Court in Abuja was also reported to have disqualified Monday Okpebholo of the APC from the poll on account of age falsification.
The APC campaign organisation had swiftly put a lie to the report by deploying the court papers in the circumstance.
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