The Federal High Court in Lagos today Wednesday discharged former Ekiti State’s Governor Ayodele Fayose of money laundering and theft of ₦6.9 billion.
The long-standing money laundering case was initiated against Fayose by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2018.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld a no-case submission filed by Fayose, ruling that the EFCC failed to link him to the alleged crime or establish a prima facie case to warrant him opening his defence.
Fayose was first arraigned in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, but the EFCC later secured a transfer of the case to Justice Aneke.
The anti-graft agency had accused Fayose of receiving ₦1.2bn for his 2014 governorship campaign and collecting $5m in cash from a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
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.
At the hearing on Wednesday, Fayose’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the EFCC failed to prove any of the allegations.
He also noted that Abiodun Agbele, who was allegedly involved in the transactions, was not charged alongside 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 submitted.
The court agreed and discharged the former Governor.
Fayose had been standing trial on allegations bordering on money laundering and fraud during his tenure as governor.
However, after years of legal proceedings, the court found that the evidence presented by the EFCC was insufficient to sustain the charges.
