N6.9bn fraud: Fayose’s associate deposited N209m cash for property – witness

A prosecution witness, Mrs Joanne Tolulope, in the trial of former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos how Mr Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose bought properties worth N1.3bn within four months.

This is just as she said Fayose’s associate deposited N209m cash for a property.

Tolulope who is the 11th prosecution witness, testified before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, in the trial of the former governor for an alleged fraud of N6.9bn filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Led in evidence on Wednesday by the EFCC’s counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the witness informed the court that Agbele bought four chalets from her company, Still Earth Limited, between March and July, 2015.

The witness, who is an in-house counsel for Still Earth Limited stated that the company deals in real estate and also renovates properties to meet the needs and expected standard of their clients.

In her testimony, she stated that sometime between March and July 2015, her company was approached by Mr Abiodun Agbele through a phone call and requested if there were properties available for sale.

“Incidentally, we had properties for sale. We discussed about Mr Agbele’s availability to come for inspection. He came sometime in March, 2015 to inspect the property and requested for two chalets of three-bedroom and four-bedroom respectively, and paid N575m and some fractions for the property.

“Again, in July 2015 he (Agbele) approached us and bought chalets 6 and 9 for N573million and some figures. He also approached us to register the Deed of Assignment in the name of JJ Technical Services.”

However, attempts by Jacobs to tender the Deed of Assignment as an exhibit were resisted by defence lawyer, Mr Ola Olanipekun (SAN), who raised an objection as to the admissibility of the document.

Following the objection, counsel to EFCC informed the court that he would withdraw the document but will tender it later during trial.

The witness told the court that the sum of N800million was deposited by De Privateer Limited into the account of Still Earth Ltd, and a cash lodgment of N209m from one Taofeek on the instructions of Abiodun Agbele.

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She stated that in January, 2015 the sum of N105,750,000 was received from Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited, and N39,500,000 was received from Hoss Concept while another N40million was received from De Privateer Limited.

She added that in February 2015, De Privateer Limited paid N200million, while the sum of N132,500,000 was paid by a company called Sam Chase.

Fayose is standing trial on charges bordering on N6.9bn fraud and is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, over money laundering charges.

He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts of fraud and money laundering offences.

The former governor had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50million with sureties in like sum.

The defendant was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Olatoregun, following the EFCC’s petition.

He had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.

The Commission has since opened its case, and is still leading witnesses in evidence.

According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2bn, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti, which sum they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

The offences contravened 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.

The judge adjourned till Thursday (today) for the continuation of the trial.

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