Former Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on re-arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday overwhelmed the commission to secure a Federal High Court permit to travel for medical checks overseas.
The EFCC had re-arraigned Fayosei over allegations of N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.
National Daily learned that Fayose pleaded not guilty before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
National Daily recalls that EFCC had commenced the prosecution of Fayose on October 22. 2018, in conjunction with Spotless Investment Limited on 11 count charges over fraud and money laundering before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun of the Federal High Court, Lagos. The former governor on arraignment pleaded not guilty; he was remanded but was later granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
The prosecution was said to have commenced briefs on November 19, 2018; inviting 13 of the 15 witnesses presented to the court but the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, transferred the case from Olatoregun to Aneke, on the petition of EFCC.
The witnesses were said to include former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.
National Daily learned that the former Ekiti State Governor was to be re-arraigned before Aneke on June 28, but the prosecution prayed the court to adjourn the case.
National Daily gathered that on re-arraignment on Tuesday, defence counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), prayed the court to allow Fayose to continue with the bail conditions granted by Olatoregun.
The prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, did not object to the application, which made Justice Aneke grant the application.
Olanipekun was said to have further made an application seeking leave for Fayose to travel to South Africa for medical examination during courts long vacation which will begin in July.
National Daily learned that there was no objection to the application by the prosecution counsel. Aneke, therefore, granted the application and ordered temporary release of Fayose’s international passport.
The court said to have directed that the passport should be returned on or before September 16, and thereafter, adjourned the case to September 16 for trial.
The EFCC is accusing Fayose and Agbele of obtaining the sum of N1.2 billion on June 17, 2014, for the funding of his governorship election.