The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, of charges bordering on money laundering and theft to the tune of ₦6.9bn.
Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, was cleared of money laundering and embezzlement charges totaling ₦6.9 billion by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, stating that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to link him to the alleged crime or demonstrate a prima facie evidence to justify his defence.
Fayose was initially charged in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, but the EFCC later obtained a transfer of the case to Justice Aneke.
The anti-graft agency accused Fayose of obtaining ₦1.2 billion for his 2014 governorship campaign and $5 million in cash from former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institutions.
He was also accused of laundering various sums, including over ₦1.6bn, which was allegedly used to acquire properties through companies such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd.
Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on 11 counts bordering on money laundering and theft.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed while he served as governor and involved funds reportedly linked to the Office of the National Security Adviser.
