The ongoing judges’ conference on Monday stalled the N6.9bn money laundering trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The trial could not proceed as the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, was said to be attending the conference.

The defendant was also not in court.

Fayose is facing trial of N6.9bn fraud and money laundering charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

On July 2, 2019, the former governor was re-arraigned before Justice Aneke after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following a petition form EFCC.

He had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.

Trial has commenced and the EFCC’s prosecution witness is still giving evidence before Justice Aneke.

In December 2021, the EFCC had called its 11th witness, one Mrs Joanne Tolulope, who had narrated how Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Fayose, bought properties worth several millions of naira.

However no date has been fixed for the next hearing of the case.