Former Governor Ayodele Fayose was yesterday arraigned at the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti by EFCC over the NGN1.3 billion fraud he allegedly committed while in office, according to All Africa.

The case, which has been running since 17 December 2007, first came for hearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos but was last year transferred to Ekiti State based on the request of the defendant (Fayose).

However, the case could not be heard following objection raised by counsel to the first accused in the case, Kunle Kalejaye (SAN), on the issue of jurisdiction, the case was later adjourned until 30 November for the substantive suit to be determined.

The case with reference number FHC/L/179c/2006 was being presided over by Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court in the state capital.

Appearing for the EFCC are: Rotimi Jacobs, Tayo Olukotun, Adebisi Adeniyi and others, while Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) led others including Owoseni Ajayi, Yakubu Daua Bimpe Olatemiju and Adetunji Muraino and Ahmed Tafa represented the accused persons.

The presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Obile, who overruled the objection raised by the Prosecution Counsel on the issue of jurisdiction, deemed the adjournment imperative on the premise of jurisdiction raised by the counsel to the accused persons.

He added that the court was to also allow the application filed by the counsel to the second and third accused persons, on the point that necessary case files have been served on him.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs had called for the substantive case to be heard yesterday and today, which involved the first accused person, reports All Africa.

Mr Jacob said, he had come for the substantive case to be heard, which was why he had brought two of his witnesses from Lagos and that they were around in the court.