Former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose has been discharged of ₦6.9 billion money laundering and theft charges by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to link Fayose to the alleged crimes. The judge upheld a no-case submission filed by Fayose, saying that the EFCC did not establish enough evidence to make the former governor defend himself.
Fayose was first arraigned in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, but the EFCC got the case transferred to Justice Aneke.
The anti-graft agency had accused Fayose of receiving ₦1.2 billion for his 2014 governorship campaign and also collecting $5 million in cash from former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without using any bank.
The EFCC also said he laundered over ₦1.6 billion and used it to buy properties through companies like De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd. Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were re-arraigned on 11 counts of money laundering and theft.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Fayose’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, told the court that the EFCC could not prove any of the claims. He pointed out that Abiodun Agbele, who was allegedly involved in the transactions, was not charged with Fayose.
“With due respect, the predicate offences on which these charges are based do not hold water. Criminal breach of trust and conspiracy are distinct, and no co-conspirator was charged alongside the defendant,” Agabi argued.
The court agreed with the defence and discharged the former governor.
