Posted by By ADESINA AIYEKOTI on
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose on Tuesday prayed a Federal High Court, in Lagos to quash the 51-count charges bordering on money laundering slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose on Tuesday prayed a Federal High Court, in Lagos to quash the 51-count charges bordering on money laundering slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Faulting the charges instituted against him on December 17, 2007, Fayose argued that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against him to justify his arraignment.
Also challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him, the accused further argued, through his counsel, that the funds, amounting to over N1.5 billion allegedly mentioned in the various counts, did not belong to the Federal Government nor any of her agencies.
Asking the court to hands off entertaining the matter, the former governor maintained that the alleged offences he was being tried for were said to have been committed in connection with projects that were supposed to be executed in Ekiti State.
Among the charges leveled against Fayose was that he converted the sum of N20 million to construct his personal house at Ibadan, which formed part of the money entrusted in the hands of Biological Concepts Nigerian Limited, a consultant to the Ekiti State government in the execution of Ekiti State Integrated Poultry Project Scheme.
Fayose was also alleged to have, between April and August 2004, collaborated with Biological Concept Nigeria Limited to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of £37,600, which formed part of the money entrusted by the Ekiti State government for the poultry project.
The prosecution further alleged, in count 28 of the charges, that Fayose procured another firm, Avian Specialist Nigeria Limited, to retain in its account the sum of N157.4 million, which formed part of the funds illegally deducted from the money meant for the poultry project.
Meanwhile, the EFCC, is expected to move its motion to counter the requests.