Fayose appears in Lagos high court and is remanded in custody pending the consideration of his bail request

FORMER Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose appeared the federal high court in Lagos this morning amid tight security to answer charges on 11 counts of fraud and corruption filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Early this morning, the EFCC brought Governor Fayose to court in a white bus from custody, where he had been detained since last week. Governor Fayose who submitted himself to the anti-graft agency shortly after the expiration of his immunity from prosecution, will face Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who has been assigned the case.

Being defended by a former attorney-general of the federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, Governor Fayose has already denied all the charged levelled against him. Chief Agabi was also counsel for the senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki, when he was tried before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for false asset declaration.

Upon his appearance, Governor Fayose pleaded not guilty to the first charge that he and his company Spotless Investment misappropriated N30.8bn.  EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, confirmed service of the bail application but told the court that he required time to reply.

Justice Olatoregun, consequently, adjourned the case until October 24 for the hearing of the bail application. Following a plea by the defence counsel on the temporary remand of Governor Fayose, the court ordered that he should be remanded in custody of the EFCC pending bail.