A prosecution witness, Joanne Tolulope, in the trial of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has informed a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, how an associate of the ex-governor, Abiodun Agbele, bought properties worth N1.3 billion within four months.
Tolulope, who is the eleventh prosecution witness, testified before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on Wednesday, in the trial of the former governor over an alleged fraud of N6.9billion filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Led in evidence by the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, Tolulope 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 standards of their clients.
In her testimony, she stated that sometime between March and July 2015 that Agbele contacted the company 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 an inspection. He came sometime in March 2015 to inspect the property and requested for two chalets of 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom respectively and paid N575 million 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,” she said.
An attempt by the EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) to tender the Deed of Assignment as an exhibit was resisted by the defence lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, (SAN) who raised objections as to the admissibility of the document.
Following the objection, counsel to EFCC informed the court that he would withdraw the document but would tender it later during trial.
The witness further informed the court that the sum of N800million was deposited by De Privateer Limited into account of Still Earth Ltd, and a cash lodgement of N209million from one Taofeek on the instructions of Abiodun Agbele.
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.
The judge adjourned to Thursday for the continuation of the trial.
The embattled former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, is standing trial on charges bordering on N6.9billion fraud.
He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.
He 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 Mrs Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.
He 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.
Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars, (about N1.8 billion) from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
Fayose was alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain the aggregate sums of N851million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Besides, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sums of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja.
The offences contravene 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.
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Alleged N6.9bn fraud: Fayose’s associate bought properties worth N1.3bn within four months, says witness
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