The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges bordering on money laundering and theft amounting to ₦6.9 billion.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld a no-case submission filed by the former governor, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to link Fayose to the alleged crimeor establish a prima facie case that would warrant him entering a defence.
Fayose was first arraigned in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, but the case was later reassigned to Justice Aneke at the request of the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency accused Fayose of receiving ₦1.2 billion for his 2014 governorship campaign, and of collecting $5 million in cash from a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without routing the transaction through any financial institution.
In addition, he was alleged to have laundered several sums, including over ₦1.6 billion, which the EFCC said was used to acquire properties through proxies and companies such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, in contravention of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on 11 counts of money laundering and theft. The offences were alleged to have been committed during his tenure as governor and reportedly involved funds linked to the Office of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
At the hearing on Wednesday, Fayose’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), maintained that the EFCC failed to prove any of the allegations levelled against his client. He argued that the key figure mentioned in the transactions, Abiodun Agbele, 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.
He then urged the court to hold that Fayose had no case to answer.
Justice Aneke agreed and discharged the former governor.
