N2.2bn fraud: Fayose gets court permission for medical trip

Agency report

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday granted leave to former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, who is facing money laundering charges, to travel for medical treatment.

Justice C.J. Aneke granted the leave following an application to that effect by Fayose’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), who was represented at the Monday proceedings by Mr Ahmed T.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been trying Fayose, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited, since 2018 shortly after he finished his second term in office as governor.

The EFCC accused him of laundering N2.2bn, which he allegedly used to prosecute his election in 2014.

In the charges, the EFCC alleged, among others, that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of N1, 219, 000,000 to fund your 2014 governorship 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 Monday proceedings in the case was stalled as Obanikoro, who had been testifying as the 12th prosecution witness, was absent from court.

The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), prayed for an adjournment, which was not opposed by the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), and Mr Ahmed T.

However, Ojo, who is counsel for Spotless Investment Limited, told the judge that if “the trend continues on the next adjourned date,” he would have no choice but to make the “necessary application.”

On his part, Fayose’s lawyer informed the court of an application by his client seeking leave of the court for medical trip.

The prosecutor did not oppose this application, which was, consequently, granted by Justice Aneke, after which the judge adjourned further proceedings till June 6.