Update, Prosecution Tells Court;How Fayose Bought Lagos Properties For N190m, $175,000

H5N1 prosecution witness, O. Kennedy, inwards the on-going case of a sometime governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, told Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, sitting inwards Ikoyi, Lagos State how the sometime governor bought properties inwards Lagos at the costs of N190m as well as $175,000, respectively.

Fayose, amongst his company, Spotless Investment Limited, was arraigned by EFCC on Oct 22, 2018, on an 11-count accuse bordering on fraud as well as coin laundering.

during proceedings, the 7th prosecution witness, (PW7), Kennedy, a lawyer, told the courtroom that he drafted the documents with which Fayose bought a Charlet at No.100 Tiamiyu Savage, Victoria Island, Lagos for N190million as well as a holding worth $175,000 through i Abiodun Agbele as well as J.J. Technical Limited.

Led inwards prove past times the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Kennedy told the courtroom that the parties to the understanding inwards abide by of the transaction were Noga Hotels Nigeria Limited, every bit the signor as well as J.J. Technical Limited, every bit the signee. He farther stated that he was briefed past times his client, Agbele, on the transaction earlier he drafted the documents for the buy of the property, adding that Agbele told him to increase the cost of the holding inwards the document.

 Kennedy upon cross-examination past times the defence forcefulness team, stated that he did non attend whatever coming together betwixt the parties involved inwards the transaction; he, however, disclosed that he was getting privilege information from about staff of J.J. Technical Limited. When asked past times Olalekan Ojo, SAN, counsel to the minute defendant, if the controversy he made to the EFCC on the transaction was merely true, the witness said, "to the best of my knowledge, I did non lie. But a prevarication inwards fault may convey occurred."

 The witness admitted that he did non include inwards his controversy to the EFCC that he was told to inflate the cost of the holding inwards the transaction document he drafted. In his testimony, 9th prosecution witness, PW9, Joseph Cosen Michelle, Managing Director, J.J. Technical Limited, an Ondo-based structure company, told the courtroom that the fellowship was incorporated inwards 2007 past times himself, his blood brother as well as brother-in-law.

 Michelle, an Arabian, said later the incorporation of the company, that contracts did non come upward their way, as well as that he did non know almost whatever holding bought past times J.J. Limited. Upon cross-examination past times the defence forcefulness counsel, Michelle admitted having cognition of a "Letter Of Authority" written to his brother, Maron Michelle, said to endure given to Abiodun Agbele to assist J.J. Technical Limited source for contracts.

He told the courtroom that he was a articulation possessor of J.J. Technical Limited, which is the fellowship Fayose allegedly used for the buy of the property, but told the courtroom that he did non know that his fellowship was involved inwards the buy of whatever holding until he was invited past times the EFCC.

In his ain testimony, the 10th prosecution witness, PW10, Maron told the courtroom that he was too a articulation possessor of J.J. Technical Limited, adding that, "he has about human relationship with the Ekiti State authorities nether the direction of Ayodele Fayose.

According to Maron, "J.J. Technical Limited belongs to me, my blood brother as well as my brother-in-law. After nosotros incorporated the fellowship inwards 2007, in that place was no contract; so, I discussed with Abiodun Agbele to assist us larn contract as well as jobs."Mr. Abiodun Agbele therefore asked me for a fellowship inwards which nosotros tin utilization to larn contract as well as I gave him the documents of J.J. Technical Limited. After giving him the documents, Agbele bought the holding inwards J.J. Technical Limited's refer as well as I signed for the property."Afterwards, the EFCC froze my banking concern accounts, invited me to the purpose as well as seized my international passport later I was told that I was involved inwards a shady bargain that has to create with the property.

"I seat a telephone band through to Abiodun Agbele as well as I told him almost the evolution as well as he said I should tell the EFCC that the holding was genuinely mine. I made a controversy to the EFCC on July 28, 2016, based on what Abiodun Agbele told me."Afterwards, my lawyer came to the Commission that same twenty-four hours as well as asked me secretly if I told the EFCC the truth almost the property."I told my lawyer that I did non tell the truth as well as he straight off told me to become dorsum as well as say the truth to the EFCC. I went dorsum to write about other controversy inwards the EFCC, which stated the truth that I was non the possessor of the property."

Upon cross-examination past times the defence forcefulness squad the witness admitted making ii statements to the EFCC. He stated that, "my start controversy did non nation the truth, but my minute controversy did say the truth". 

When the prosecution counsel, Jacobs, raised an observation pertaining to Maron's minute statement, Justice Olatoregun warned him that he should never re-evaluate her ruling. "Do non stand upward in that place with impetus as well as re-evaluate my ruling; your are incompetent to create so. If you lot convey an objection, you lot become to the Appeal Court as well as halt blowing your wings inwards arrogance. You are extremely rude to convey re-evaluated my ruling," the guess said.

 Jacobs, inwards his reply said he didn't re-evaluate her ruling. Justice Olatoregun thereafter, adjourned the illustration to Apr 15, 2019 for continuation of trial.