FREEPRESS – The prosecution, on Monday, opened its case before a Federal High Court, Lagos, in the criminal trial of ex-Governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, charged with N6.9bn fraud.
Fayose had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Octber 22 alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2bn for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of$5m (about N1.8bn) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution and which sum exceeded the amount allowed by law.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300m in his bank account and took control of the aggregate sums of about N622m, which sum he ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain in their two bank accounts the aggregate sums of N851m which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Besides, the accused was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6bn to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which sums he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
The accused was also alleged to have used the sum of N200m to acquire a property in Abuja in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji, which sum he ought to know also formed crime proceeds.
The offences contravened the provisions of sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court granted him bail in the sum of N50m, with one surety in like sum and adjourned until Monday November 19, 2018, for trial.
When the case resumed, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) appeared for the EFCC, while Messrs Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) represented the first and second accused respectively.
Jacobs called on first the prosecution witness, Mr. Lawrence Akande, a banker in a commercial bank in charge of South West 1, comprising Ogun, Oyo and Osun states.
Led by the prosecutor, the witness told the court that in June 2014, he was called by one Abiodun Agbele, who informed him that he had about N1.2bn cash lodgement to make in Akure.
He told the court that afterwards, he also received a call from Fayose on the same issue, adding that since the lodgement was in Akure, he placed a call across to his colleague in Akure to follow up same.
“This is all I know on this issue,” Akande said.
When asked if he knew the second accused (Spotless Ltd), he replied that the company was a customer of his bank with account at Dugbe branch.
The prosecutor then showed the witness some account opening document of Spotless Nig. Ltd, De Privateer Ltd, Still Earth Ltd as well as account document of first accused.
The witness confirmed the documents and they were admitted by the court and marked Exhibit A.
When asked where the account of Fayose was domiciled, the witness replied, “It is not domiciled within my domain, but from the document before me here, I can see Apapa.”
During cross-examination by second defence counsel (Ojo), the witness told the court that he had worked in banking sector for 28 years.
He confirmed to the court that a person who is not a signatory to an account cannot make withdrawals from such account.
According to the witness, there are withdrawal limits in every account and where withdrawals are to be made above the stipulated limits, it is reported to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit to investigate such transaction.
EFCC then called its second witness, Mr. Abiodun Oshodi who introduced himself as the zonal head of the bank, covering South West 2 which includes Ondo, Kwara and Ekiti states, adding that he also supervises all branches in the three localities.
The witness told the court that he received a call from his colleague (Akande) that Agbele will be coming to make some lodgements and that he should organise a bullion van.
He said that he waited for Agbele, who arrived with one Sadiku and some escorts, adding that Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, the then Minister of State for Defence, and his aide, also accompanied them.
According to him, as soon as the aircraft arrived, he moved with the bullion van towards the plane to evacuate the money.
He said that the total sum amounted to N1.2bn, adding that they were lodged into accounts supplied by Agbele.
He said that they include: Spotless Nig. Ltd, De Privateer Ltd, as well as personal account of the first accused (Fayose), while some cash was taken to Ado-Ekiti.
When asked to look at the deposits in the account of Spotless Ltd from June 17 to August 4, 2014, he told the court that there was a lodgement of N100m on June 17.
He said that on June 23, there was a cash lodgement of N49m; on June 24, a cash lodgement of N200,000; while on August 4, there was a cash lodgement of N40m.
According to him, on same August 4, there were also cash lodgements in the sums of N35m, N35m, N24m, N20 and N14m respectively.
The witness told the court that Agbele made the deposit on June 17, while from the statement before him, he could see that it is written “Ayo” as depositor of the funds on August 4.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun then adjourned until January 21 and 28 for continuation of trial.
About The Author
