Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Proceedings in the N 2. 2bn fraud trial of a former governor of Ekiti State , Mr Ayodele Fayose , and a firm , Spotless Investment Limited , was stalled on Tuesday with a request for an adjournment by the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Rotimi Jacobs ( SAN) .
The prosecutor, who was expected to call the eighth prosecution witness, told Justice C . J . Aneke that he was having difficulty bringing the witness to court “ because of happenings in the EFCC . ”
The EFCC recently went through a stormy episode with the arrest of its then acting Chairman , Ibrahim Magu , who was forcefully taken before the presidential probe panel , headed by a former President of the Court of Appeal , Justice Ayo Salami ( retd . ) .
Magu, whose probe is still ongoing, was subsequently suspended alongside 12 other senior officials of the commission, including the EFCC Secretary , Ola Olukoyede .
His probe is predicated on allegations against him by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami ( SAN) .
Magu was accused of abuse of office and mismanagement of recovered assets.
On Tuesday, following the request by the prosecutor , Justice Aneke adjourned Fayose ’ s trial till October 19 and 20, 2020.
Fayose and Spotless Limited are facing 11 counts , bordering on criminal breach of trust, theft and money laundering .
In the charges, the EFCC alleged, among other things , that Fayose , on June 17, 2014, “ took possession of the sum of N 1, 219, 000, 000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State , which you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing. ”
The ex – governor was also alleged to have on the same day “ received a cash payment of $5, 000, 000 from Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence , which sum exceeded the amount authorised by law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 1 and 16( d) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act , 2011 ( as amended ) and punishable under Section 16 ( 2)( b) of the same Act . ”
The EFCC also alleged that Fayose purchased a property known as No . 44, Osun Crescent, Maitama , Abuja for N 200m in the name of “ your elder sister , Mrs Moji Oladeji . ”
But Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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