The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has transferred the trial of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, charged with alleged N6.9 billion fraud, to a new judge.
The CJ, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, transferred the case from the former judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.
The action, followed a petition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, seeking a transfer of the case.
Fayose was arraigned on October 22, 2018, by the EFCC, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offence.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum, while the prosecution opened trial on November 19, and had so far called 13 witnesses out of the 15 listed.
On March 20, a drama ensued in court midway into trial, between the trial judge, and EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, SAN.
The judge raised concerns on the manner of prosecution by counsel and had noted that the prosecutor was not doing a good job, adding that he was not competent to evaluate the court’s ruling.
On his part, the prosecutor expressed his displeasure on the grounds that he had always dispensed his duties diligently.
The trial was billed to resume on June 10.
However, the CJ conveyed the transfer of the case from Justice Olatoregun to Justice Aneke, in a letter dated May 23, a copy of which was obtained by newsmen.
The CJ said, “I refer to the petition of EFCC on this case and your Lordship’s comments thereto.
“It is apparent that the prosecution has lost confidence in the judge trying this case and justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done, I hereby transfer this case to Hon. Justice C. J. Aneke for hearing.”
A new date for the case before Aneke has however not been confirmed.
(NAN)