Alleged N6.9bn fraud: CJ transfers Fayose’s case to new Judge

The Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal High Court has transferred the trial of the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, charged with alleged N6.9 billion fraud, to a new Judge.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the CJ, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, transferred the case from Justice Mojisola Olatoregun to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, following a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), seeking the transfer of the case.

Fayose was arraigned on October 22, last year, by the EFCC, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts, bordering on fraud and money laundering.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, last year, in the sum of N50 million, with sureties in like sum, while the prosecution opened trial on November 19, last year, and had so far called 13 witnesses out of 15 listed.

On March 20, this year, a drama ensued in court midway into trial between Justice Olatoregun and EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), when the Judge raised concerns over the manner of prosecution by Counsel, noting that the prosecutor was not doing a good job and not competent to evaluate the court’s ruling.

But Jacobs expressed his displeasure on the grounds that he had always dispensed his duties diligently and had never been derogated by any court.

Meanwhile, at the last proceedings on May 10, the 13th prosecution witness, Adewale Aladegbola, a former bullion van driver, had given evidence, which the prosecutor described as being contrary to his extra-judicial statement to the Commission.