By Matthew Don
A senior personnel of Zenith Bank Plc, Lawrence Akande, serving as prosecution witness in the N6.9billion money laundering case involving former Governor Ayode Fayose of Ekiti State has conceded that the bank solicited patronage from the governor when he was in office.
Akande added that Fayose maintained three accounts with the bank namely Spotless Investment, De Privateer, and Fayose’s personal account domiciled in Apapa.
Akande spoke as the trial of Fayose commenced on Monday, October 21 before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court Lagos Nigeria.
The witness told the Court that his Bank solicited patronage from Fayose.
Fayose was first arraigned on October 22. 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, alongside a company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on money laundering offences.
He had 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.
The defendant was subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2.
Fayose had also maintained not guilty stance to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.
At the commencement of trial on Monday, Mr Adebisi Adeniyi announced appearance for the prosecution while Messrs Ola Olanipekun (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN) appeared for the first and second defendants respectively.
In his examination-in-chief, Akande as the witness introduced himself as a staff of Zenith Bank Plc, residing in Lekki.
Akande said he was responsible for the supervision of 20 branches of the bank in the three states of Oyo, Ogun and Osun.
When asked where he was in 2014, he told the court that he was in Ibadan as Zonal Head of the bank, adding that he had held several positions with the bank.
Akande further told the court that in June 2014, he received a call from the first defendant informing him that there would be a business transaction in Akure.
He said that at that point, he called one Biodun Oshode who was based in Akure as Zonal head of the bank, to handle the transaction.
According to him, Fayose maintained three accounts with the bank namely Spotless Investment, De Privateer, and Fayose’s personal account domiciled in Apapa.
When asked if he recalled that the bank supplied any accounts to the EFCC in relation to the instant case,he replied No, adding that there is a department of the bank responsible for handling such matters.
Under cross examination, the witness told the court that his bank had solicited patronage from the defendant.
Defence counsel (Olanipekun) had asked the witness if he met the defendant for the first time in the course of this transaction, and whether he had sought any patronage from him.Witness replied that he did not just meet Fayose for the first time in the transaction.
He said: “No, he has always been my Governor, and Yes as a good zonal head of my bank I solicited patronage from him.”
Defence asked : “At all times, you knew the defendant to be someone of high network through whom you get sufficient funds into your bank? The witness replied “Yes”.