The absence of Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke in court on Thursday stalled the N6.9 billion fraud trial of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Aneke is said to be away attending a conference.
Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering involving N6.9 billion while serving as governor.
Also charged alongside Fayose, was his aide, Abiodun Agbele, accused of assisting his boss in carting away part of the missing funds.
Fayose was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on an 11-count charge.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The defendant was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on July 2, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC’s petition on unsatisfactory handling of the case.
Fayose also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to enjoy his bail while the case was adjourned until November 28 for trial.
The trial, however, could not progress as slated as the court did not sit and a new date has yet to be fixed for the trial.
