Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos has fixed December 19, 2022, for the commencement of trial of an oil marketer, Adeleke Fayose.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned him for oil fraud on October 27, 2022.
Justice Dada gave the date after delivering a ruling on his bail application at the resumption of trial where the defense and prosecution counsel argued for and against his bail.
The defence counsel, Chineye Udeh, in moving the application, urged the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the defendant who had been enjoying administrative bail by the EFCC, never jumped bail.
On the EFCC part, their counsel, Samuel Daji, moved a counter-affidavit to oppose the application for bail, noting that the defendant is a flight risk.
After listening to both parties, Justice Dada granted bail to the defendant in the sum of fifty million naira with two sureties in like sum who must be resident within jurisdiction of the court and who must show evidence of tax payment in the past three years.
The judge also ordered that a lien be placed on the surety bank accounts, while the defendant should submit his international passport to the court.
Adeleke Fayose was arraigned alongside his company, Brooks and Knight International Limited on a three-count charge involving oil fraud bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and stealing to the tune of N66.5 million.
One of the counts reads: “Adeleke Fayose and Brooks & Knight International Limited on or about the 9th August 2018 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly stole the sum of N40,000,000.00 (Forty Million Naira) property of GOSL Nigeria Limited.”
Another count reads: “Adeleke Fayose and Brooks & Knight International Limited on or about the 10th August 2018 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly stole the sum of N26,459,200.00 (Twenty-Six Million Four-Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand Two Hundred Naira) property of GOSL Nigeria Limited.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges and the judge adjourned for hearing of the bail applications for commencement of trial to prove the allegations against him.
RADIO NIGERIA