BREAKING: Fayose To Remain In Detention, As Court Refuses Him Bail And Adjourns Trial

Today Monday, the dailyadvent and the ChannelsTv reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos state has adjourned the trial of Ayodele Fayose, the former Ekiti State Governor till Wednesday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Fayose on an 11-count charge bordering corruption and abuse of office to the tune of N30.8 billion.

When the charges were read to him, the former Governor pleaded not guilty.

His counsel, Kanu Agabi, filed a bail application on his behalf of his client but the presiding judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, rejected the application, ruling that Fayose should remain in EFCC custody till Wednesday.

Fayose, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, is at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, to answer to charges of corruption filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fayose was brought to court shortly before 9 am, and notable among those at the court to offer him support was Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation.

However, ex-minister Musiliu Obanikoro, who had been listed as one of 17 witnessed to testify against Fayose was not in court.

EFCC named 22 witnesses to testify against Fayose on Sunday. They had transferred Fayose from their Abuja office to Lagos, in order for him to be arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos today.

EFCC named Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Alex Otti, as well as the Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank amongst others as key witnesses.

Some of the charges against Fayose read in part, That you Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Mr. Abiodun Agbele (now facing another charge) on or about 17th June, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of the sum of N1, 219, 000, 000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira) to fund your 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Act.

That you Mr. Ayodele Fayose on or about 7th April, 2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did retain in your fixed deposit account No: 9013074033 with Zenith Bank Plc, the sum of N300, 000, 000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

That you Mr. Ayodele Fayose and Spotless Limited between 17th June, 2014 and 4th August, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took control of an aggregate sum of N317, 000, 000.00 (Three Hundred and Seventeen Million Naira) by depositing same into the Zenith Bank Plc’s Account No: 1010170969 belonging to Spotless Limited, a company controlled by you and members of your family and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/stealing and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.