The money laundering trial of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was on Monday, stalled before a Federal High Court in Lagos as the trial court did not sit.
The trial could not proceed as the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, was said to be attending a conference.
A new date will now be agreed on by the parties in due course.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.
He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
The defendant was, however, subsequently, re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following the EFCC’s petition.
He had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.
The commission has since opened its case before Justice Aneke and is still leading witnesses in evidence.
In December 2021, the EFCC had called its 11th witness, one Mrs Joanne Tolulope, who had narrated how Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose, bought properties worth several millions of naira.
The trial will now continue on the next adjourned date.
NAN
