Former Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State was on today re-arraigned at a Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in continuation of his trial for allegedly defrauding the state of N1.3 billion while in office.
The case was initially brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Dec. 17, 2007after Fayose’s emergence from a self-imposed exile, and was transferred to Ekiti State last year, based on Fayose’s request.
The case was, however, adjourned till Nov. 30to facilitate the determination of the substantive case, following an objection raised by Counsel to the accused, Mr Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) on the issue of jurisdiction.
The trial is being presided over by Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court.
Appearing for the EFCC were Rotimi Jacobs , Tayo Olukotun , Adebisi Adeniyi and others, while Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) led others, including Owoseni Ajayi, Yakubu Dauda, Bimpe Olatemiju and Adetunji Muraino, while Ahmed Tafa represented the other accused persons.
Obile, who overruled the objection raised by the Prosecution Counsel on the issue of jurisdiction, said the adjournment was necessary because of the issue of jurisdiction raised by Counsel to the accused.
The Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, had requested that the substantive case involving the former governor be heard on Wednesday and Thursday, informing the court that he had come with two of his witnesses from Lagos.
Counsel to the second and third accused , Abayomi Sadiku, had also moved that based on his application, the court should quash the case against his clients, saying that they had not been served with details of the case files.
In the same vein, Counsel to the fourth accused, Ahmed Tafa, had equally raised an objection for the hearing to continue, arguing that his client was not served with all necessary files relating to the case.
Kalejaye said the matter was between the state and the accused, and that the case was a joint one, which could not be separated or tried in piecemeal.
Counsel to the principal accused said the application was about jurisdiction, stressing that when an issue of jurisdiction was brought before a court, it would be determined first.
Fayose and others are being prosecuted in connection with their involvement in the execution of the multi-million naira Integrated Poultry Project initiated in 2005 by the former governor. (NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment