The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, AYODELE FAYOSE has being arraigned before Justice MOJISOLA OLATOREGUN of the Federal High Court in Lagos amid tight security.

FAYOSE arrived the court in a white Toyota Hiacebus in the company of EFCC officials for his trial.

The former governor who is facing an 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

FAYOSE is being defended by a former Attorney General of the Federation, KANU AGABI.

Already the anti-graft agency has assembled 22 witnesses to testify against FAYOSE, in court for an alleged fraud of N30.8bn.

Among the witnesses lined up to testify against the ex-governor is a former Minister of State for Defence, MUSILIU OBANIKORO, and a former Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, ALEX OTTI.

Also to testify is AYOTUNDE OWOPE, said to be FAYOSE’s account officer who is alleged to have transferred funds from one account to another for him.
OBANIKORO, who was listed as the second witness, is expected to testify about how he took N2.2bn from the then National Security Adviser, SAMBO DASUKI, for delivery to FAYOSE in June 2014.

Spokesman to the former Governor, LERE OLAYINKA spoke to TAIWO OLAPADE ahead of his day in court.

Our correspondent reports that Justice MOJISOLA OLATOREGUN has adjourned the case until October 24 for the hearing of the bail application for FAYOSE.

The court also ordered that FAYOSE should be remanded in custody of the EFCC pending the hearing on his bail.

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, NNAMDI KANU, has vowed not to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja where he was standing trial before he left the country.

The Federal Government had charged him with treason but Justice BINTA NYAKO granted him bail after 18 months in detention.

KANU had flouted all the terms of the bail before the military invaded his Abia residence on September 14, 2017.

He fled afterwards and resurfaced in Jerusalem on Friday.

In a broadcast via Radio Biafra, KANU boasted that the Nigerian court lacked the capacity to try him.

He said the judge who asked his sureties to produce him should have asked the army why they invaded his residence.

The State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state capital, two days after dozens of people were killed in Kasuwa Magani village.

Governor, NASIR EL-RUFAI, disclosed this via his verified Twitter account on Sunday.

This follows heightened tension over anticipated reprisal by a group of youths as residents reportedly scamper for safety.

Consequently, a combined team of security operatives including soldiers, police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been deployed in the state capital.

The security personnel have taken over the major roads and flashpoints in the metropolis, to avert any form of breakdown of law and order.

No fewer than 55 lives were lost, and several others injured when some youths attacked the market on Thursday.

President MUHAMMADU BUHARI has said Nigerians who felt that they had another country outside Nigeria might choose to go.

He said he and others who did not have another country would rather stay back and salvage it together.

The President made this comment while receiving the All Progressives Congress governorship aspirants and members of the party from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also enjoined Nigerians to remain faithful and loyal to the country in all their dealings.

The National Chairman of the ruling party, ADAMS OSHIOMOLE who was part of the meeting said he remain committed to justice and fairness to all members across the country.