Money Laundering: Court Okays Ayo Fayose’s Re-arraignment

Lagos (THEWILL) - Justice Tijani Abubakar of a Lagos High Court has ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could re-arraign former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose via an amended 80-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy.

Fayose is on trial alongside a company called Biological Concept Nigeria Limited in an alleged N1.4 billion naira money laundering scam executed while he was governor of the state.

Mr. Fayose had filed an application urging the court to restrain the EFCC from re-arraigning him based on the amended charges. 

His attorney, Mr. Owoseni Ajayi had argued that since the EFCC had already charged his client to court on a 51-count charge, and considering there was also an application pending before the Court of Appeal, that allowing the new amendments would constitute a total abuse of the judicial process.

The EFCC joined the following parties, Spotless Investment Limited, Feyerio Nigeria Limited, and Hoff Concepts Limited as defendants in the amendment.

In dismissing their application, Justice Abubakar said he was basing his ruling on Section 163 and 165 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), which allows the prosecution to amend charges at any point in a trial. He said, “Based on Sections 163 and 165 of the CPA, am bound to allow the amendment. The application lacks merit ant it is hereby dismissed.”

The defendant will be re-arraigned in court on December 14, 2009.