The Federal High Court in Lagos has acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges bordering on money laundering and theft totaling N6.9 billion.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld a no-case submission filed by Fayose, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to establish a prima facie case against him. The judge noted that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence linking the former governor to the alleged offences.
The EFCC had initially arraigned Fayose in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, but the case was later reassigned to Justice Aneke after the commission secured a transfer.
The anti-graft agency accused Fayose of receiving N1.2 billion in 2014 for his governorship campaign from a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro. The sum was allegedly disbursed in cash, without being processed through any financial institution, in violation of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
In addition, the EFCC alleged that Fayose laundered various sums, including over N1.6 billion, allegedly used to acquire property through firms such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd.
The former governor and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were re-arraigned on an 11-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and theft.
