The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose over alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.
News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Fayose pleaded not guilty before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos State, who granted him leave to travel overseas for medical examination.
EFCC first arraigned Fayose alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on October 24, 2018 in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
The prosecution opened its case on November 19, 2018 and had called 13 of the 15 witnesses listed when the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdul Kafarati transferred the case from Olatoregun to Aneke, following a petition by the EFCC.
The witnesses included a former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro.
NAN reports that Fayose was billed for re-arraignment before Aneke on June 28, but the prosecution prayed the court for adjournment.
After his re-arraignment on Tuesday, defence counsel, Mr Ola Olanipekun (SAN) prayed the court to allow Fayose to continue with the bail conditions granted by Olatoregun.
The application was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Mr Adebisi Adeniyi.
Consequently, Justice Aneke granted the application.
Olanipekun also moved a motion seeking leave for Fayose to travel to South Africa for medical examination during the court’s long vacation scheduled to start in July, the application was also not opposed by the prosecution.
Aneke also granted the application and ordered the temporary release of Fayose’s international passport.
The court, however, ordered that the passport should be returned on or before September 16 and adjourned the case till September 16 for trial.
