Fayose’s re-arraignment stalled as EFCC begins new investigation

The planned re - arraignment of a former Governor of Ekiti State , Mr Ayodele Fayose , before the Federal High Court in Lagos was stalled on Friday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it had begun a new investigation on the ex - governor .

The EFCC had on October 22, 2018, arraigned Fayose for an alleged fraud of N 2. 2bn before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun six days after he completed his tenure as governor .

He was arraigned alongside his firm , Spotless Limited , on 11 counts bordering on criminal breach of trust , theft and money laundering .

The prosecution had opened trial on November 19 , 2018, and called 13 witnesses out of the 15 witnesses listed when the EFCC wrote a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu - Kafarati , requesting that the case be transferred from Justice Olatoregun before it was subsequently transferred to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke .

During Friday proceedings , counsel for Fayose , Ola Olanipekun ( SAN), informed the court of an application before the court seeking that the matter be returned to the former trial judge , Justice Olatoregun .

Olanipekun later informed the court that the defendants had opted to withdraw the objection to the arraignment . Upon the withdrawal of the objection by the defence , counsel for EFCC , S . A Obafemi , informed the court that the arraignment of the ex - governor could not go on as he was being investigated in other matters.

However , Justice Aneke upheld the prayer of the EFCC and adjourned till July 2 for re - arraignment .