Posted by By Tony Amokeodo on
A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, threw out the application of the former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, asking the court to stay further proceedings on a money-laundering suit preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, threw out the application of the former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, asking the court to stay further proceedings on a money-laundering suit preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Dismissing the ex-governor‘s application, Justice Tijani Abubakar held that the accused was merely filing applications to waste the time of the court, adding that the application lacked merit.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an alleged N1.4bn money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds.
In the instant application, Fayose had urged the court to stay further proceedings in the suit pending the determination of his appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lagos.
Fayose‘s lawyer, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, had argued that the appeal raised arguable and substantial issues of law.
But the EFCC's lawyer, Mr Wahab Shittu, opposed the application, adding that the court had earlier struck out an application of similar nature.
In his ruling, Justice Tijani Abubakar held that on the basis of section 40 of the EFCC, which said that proceedings could not be stayed, pending judgment, the accused application must fail.
He said, 'The application is devoid of merit and it is hereby refused.'
The judge latter adjourned the matter till February 18, 2009 for trial.