Robert Awokuse
The trial of the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose formally commenced Monday, November 19, before a Federal High court in Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, opened the prosecution case before the court with two witnesses from a commercial bank.
At the proceedings, the EFCC’s prosecuting officer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, made appearance for the prosecution, while Messrs Kanu Agabi, SAN, and Mr. Olalekan Ojo, SAN, represented the first and second accused respectively.
The witnesses are, Mr. Lawrence Akande, a banker in a commercial bank in charge of South West 1, comprising Ogun, Oyo and Osun States and Abiodun Oshodi.
The bankers told the court how Fayose and Abiodun Agbele recruited them to process the sum of 1.2 billion Naira on behalf of Fayose in Akure, Ondo State.
During cross examination, Akande told the court that he made statements to the EFCC, on June 6, 2016, and confirmed that he made no mention of the first accused in his initial statement.
Being cross-examined by defence counsel, Messrs Agabi, Mr. Akande said that he only made mention of Fayose in his subsequent statements.
He said that he waited for Agbele who arrived with one Sadiku and some escorts, adding that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who was the Minister of State for Defence, and his aide, also accompanied them.
Akande further added in his testimony that as soon as the aircraft arrived, he moved with the bullion van towards the plane to evacuate the money.
He said that the total sum amounted to 1.2 billion Naira, adding that they were lodged into accounts supplied by Agbele.
The trial judge Justice Mojisola Olatoregun has adjourned until January 21 and 28 for continuation of trial.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of 1.2 billion Naira for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about 1.8 billion Naira) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount allowed by law.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of 300 million Naira in his bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about 622 million Naira which sum he ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
