A Federal High Court in Lagos has restarted the trial of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over alleged N2.2 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its first witness in the case on Monday nearly a year after the trial first opened before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.
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The anti-graft agency had already called 13 out of the 22 witnesses it listed in the case before the case file was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun in June and re-assigned to Justice C.J. Aneke of the same court.
An official of Zenith Bank Plc, Lawrence Akande, testified as EFCC’s first witness on Monday.
Mr Akande, under cross-examination by Fayose’s lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, told the court that as a zonal head of his bank, he had a relationship with Fayose and had “solicited his patronage”.
The banker said he knew the ex-governor to be someone of high net worth through whom he could get sufficient deposit for his bank.
“A man of low means does not become the governor of a state,” the banker said.
He told the court of an occasion in 2014 when Fayose allegedly called him to pick up money for him at Akure Airport.
Justice Aneke adjourned further proceedings till Tuesday.
Fayose was first arraigned on October 22 on an 11-count charge of receiving and keeping N1.2 billion and $5 million stolen funds from the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) contrary to the Money Laundering Act.
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He was charged alongside his company, Spotless Limited.
He pleaded not guilty to the same charges and was allowed to remain on bail earlier granted him by Justice Olatoregun.
