The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday granted an application by an erstwhile governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayo Fayose to travel abroad for his medicals.
The immediate past governor of Ekiti state, Chief Fayose is facing trial over an alleged N2.2billion inappropriate expenditure.
Justice C.J. Aneke who made the order following an application by Fayose’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), also asked for the opinion of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which is prosecuting Fayose through its counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
The application by ex-governor Fayose to proceed abroad for his medicals was however, not opposed by the EFCC.
However, the trial judge later adjourned further hearing on the substantive case till January 22, 2021.
Recall that Chief Fayose is facing trial alongside a company known as Spotless Investment Ltd. The EFCC which is the prosecution in the case has alleged, among other issues that Fayose, on June 17, 2014, “took possession of the sum of N1, 219,000,000 to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State.”
According to the EFCC, Fayose” reasonably ought to have known(that the funds) 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 EFCC also alleged that Fayose purchased a property known as No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja for N200m in the name of “your elder sister, Mrs Moji Oladeji.”
In his response, Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited consistently pleaded not guilty to the charges as laid out by the EFCC.
