By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The continuation of cross- examination of the fifth Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro by the second defence counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN) in the trial of the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose adjourned to Wednesday February 6 by the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court Lagos Nigeria could not go on as scheduled.
No reason was offered for the cancellation.
However, TheNiche gathered that proceeding in the trial will continue on Thursday February 7.
Ayodele Fayose is facing charges of N6.9billion fraud.
On the next adjourned date, (February 7), both the prosecutor Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) and defence counsel Ojo will address the court on the admissibility of an extra judicial statement made by a party who is not standing trial.
Fayose was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in October 22, 2018 alongside a company Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts charge.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court granted him bail in the sum of N50million with one surety in like sum.
EFCC opened case for the prosecution on November 19, 2018 and called four witnesses.
On January 21, 2018 prosecution called its fifth witness, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence.
At the last adjourned date on Tursday February 5 , Obanikoro was still under cross examination by second defence counsel Ojo, who is expected to continue on the next date.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
The offences contravenes 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.
