The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday accused the defence counsel in the ongoing trial of former Governor of Ekiti Ayodele Fayose of ”tampering” with its key witnesses.
EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, made the statement at the resumed trial of Fayose facing charges bordering on N6.9billion fraud in a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Jacobs was responding to an application by the team of defence counsel, Ola Olanipekun, SAN and Olalekan Ojo, challenging the competence of a proposed third witness sought to be sworn on oath.
The EFCC charged Fayose with alleged N6.9billion fraud and money laundering charges.
He was first arraigned on October 22. 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
The defendant was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, after the case was withdrawn from Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition.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.
At the last adjourned date on October 21, EFCC called its first witness Lawrence Akande, a Zonal Head of a second generation Bank covering South-West one.
On October 22, the commission had also called its second witness, Abiodun Oshode, also same Bank Zonal Head covering South-West two.
Both witnesses had concluded their evidences, were cross examined and discharged.
On Friday, EFCC called its third witness, Johnson Abidakun, who is Head of Operations of the Bank Ado-Ekiti branch.
The witness entered the box and was about to be sworn on oath, when first defence counsel (Olanipekun) raised objection supported by Ojo.
Defence had accused the EFCC of “prosecutorial misconduct” on the grounds that they (defence) had sought leave of court to study the proof of evidence of the witness and had noticed he made judicial statements.
Recall that the prosecution had called its 13th witness, one Adewale Aladegbola, who had during trial introduced self as driver of a bullion van in the Ado-Ekiti branch of the bank during the aborted trial before Justice Olatoregun.
Defence counsel told Justice Aneke that although the testimony of that witness was abruptly stopped by the prosecution, they never declared him hostile, but has now called the instant witness (Abidakun) to “cure” the lacuna of that previous witness.
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