On Tuesday, the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court further adjourned until July 4, the continuation of the trial of a former Governor, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti.

He is facing money laundering and fraud charges.

The trial, which was earlier scheduled for continuation, was further adjourned due to the unavailability of prosecution witnesses.

Mr Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Rotimi Jacobs announced an appearance for prosecution.

Messrs U.U. Njoku and Olalekan Ojo respectively announced an appearance for Mr Fayose (first defendant) and his company, Spotlight Investment Ltd., which is the second defendant. 

Mr Jacobs informed the court that two prosecution witnesses, billed to testify on Tuesday, were unavailable.

According to him, the prosecution’s 12th witness was unavailable due to a political party’s primary election, while the other witness was occupied with a different matter.

He prayed the court to grant an adjournment, saying that he has already informed the defence team about the development.

Both defence counsels did not object to the request for adjournment.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke consequently adjourned the case for continuation of trial.

Mr Fayose was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on an 11-count charge.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted N50 million bail on October 24, 2018.

However, the former governor was re-arraigned before Mr Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Ms Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.

He also pleaded not guilty before Mr Aneke and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail.

At the last adjourned date in December 2021, EFCC called its 11th witness, Joanne Tolulope, who narrated how Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Mr Fayose, allegedly bought property worth several millions of naira.

(NAN)