The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday re-arraigned Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, and his firm, Spotless Limited, before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for alleged fraud.
The former governor was brought before a judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, on an amended 11-count money laundering charge.
The amended charge, dated November 24, 2021, was filed by the EFCC on November 25, 2021.
Mr. Fayose’s trial had continued on Wednesday with the EFCC’s 11th witness being cross-examined by Mr. Fayose’s counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN).
But on Thursday, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court the anti-graft agency had filed a new, amended charge before the defendants and sought the court’s permission to re-arraign them.
Subsequently, Mr. Fayose and his company were re-arraigned. They pleaded not guilty and were permitted to continue on the earlier bail terms granted to them.
Mr Aneke adjourned till Friday for the continuation of trial, and for the EFCC to call its 12th witness.
In the amended charge, Mr. Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele, who is also standing trial on alleged money laundering offenses before another division of the court, were alleged to have on June 17, 2014, taken possession of N1.219 billion to fund Mr Fayose’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State.
They were accused of committing criminal breaches of trust, theft, and stealing public funds.
They were also alleged to have on the same June 17, 2014, without going through financial institutions, received the sum of $5million from Musiliu Obanikoro, who was the then Minister of State for Defence.
The EFCC alleged that Mr. Fayose on April 7, 2015, retained the sum of N300 million, in his fixed deposit account number 9013074033, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc.
