THE Federal High Court in Lagos has cleared former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose of all charges in a ₦6.9 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering the judgment yesterday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the EFCC failed to establish any link between the former governor and the alleged financial crimes.
The judge stated that no prima facie case was made to require Fayose to enter a defence.
Fayose, who was initially arraigned in 2018, faced 11 counts related to theft and money laundering.
The EFCC had accused him of receiving ₦1.2 billion and $5 million in cash from former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, during his 2014 governorship campaign, as well as laundering over ₦1.6 billion through firms such as De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Kanu Agabi, representing Fayose, argued that the prosecution’s case was weak, pointing out the absence of a co-conspirator in the trial and questioning the credibility of the predicate offences.
The court agreed, ruling that the EFCC’s evidence was insufficient to proceed to full trial. Fayose’s company, Spotless Investment Ltd, was also acquitted.
This ruling marks a significant legal victory for the former governor, who had maintained his innocence throughout the years-long trial.