Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of charges bordering on money laundering and theft amounting to ₦6.9 billion.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke delivered the judgment on Wednesday, upholding Fayose’s no-case submission challenging his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court held that the EFCC failed to link Fayose to the alleged crimes and did not establish a prima facie case against him, warranting further defence.
Fayose was arraigned in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun and later re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on an 11-count charge. The EFCC alleged that Fayose took possession of ₦1.2 billion for his 2014 gubernatorial campaign and received $5 million in cash from Obanikoro, bypassing financial institutions.
Fayose’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case, noting that Abiodun Agbele, allegedly involved in the offences, wasn’t jointly tried.
Agabi submitted, “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.”
The court agreed, holding that Fayose had no case to answer.
