The trial of embattled former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday resumed at a Federal High Court in Lagos with the prosecution giving more evidence.
The prosecution called its 11th witness, Mrs. Joanne Tolulope, who narrated how one Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose, allegedly bought property worth millions of naira. Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering. He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun. The former governor was arraigned alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering. During the examination of the witness on Wednesday by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness told the court that Agbele bought four chalets from her company Still Earth Limited between March and July 2015. The witness, an in-house counsel for Still Earth Limited testified that from March to July 2015, her company was contacted by Agbele, via a phone call to inquire if there were property available for sale.
“Incidentally, we had properties for sale; we discussed about Agbele’s availability for inspection. He came sometime in March 2015 to inspect the properties and requested for two chalets of three bedrooms and four bedrooms, respectively, and paid N575 million and some fractions for the property,” she said. According to her, Agbele further approached the company to register the deed of assignment in the name of JJ Technical Services. However, an attempt by the prosecutor to tender the deed of assignment as an exhibit was resisted by Fayose’s counsel, Mr. Ola Olanipekun (SAN), who contested its admissibility. Following the objection, the prosecution counsel sought to withdraw the document, saying that it could be tendered later in the trial.
On how the money was paid, the witness told the court that N800 million was deposited by De Privateer Limited into a bank account of Still Earth Limited, adding that there was cash payment of N209 million by one Taofeek on the instruction of Agbele. She testified that in January 2015, the sum of N105.7 million was received from Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited, N39.5 million from Hoss Concept, while additional N40 million was received from De Privateer Limited. She added that in February 2015, De Privateer Limited paid N200 million while N132.5 million was paid by a company called Sam Chase. The trial continues today.