Delivering judgment on Tuesday morning, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case that would warrant the former governor to enter a defence
By Titilope Adako
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bringing an end to a legal battle that lasted nearly seven years.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday morning, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case that would warrant the former governor to enter a defence.
Fayose was initially arraigned alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd., on October 22, 2018.
The EFCC had accused him of receiving ₦2.2 billion from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), through a firm allegedly linked to former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
The anti-graft agency later amended the charges to reflect ₦6.9 billion.
The EFCC called 20 witnesses, including nine bank officials, to support its claims that Fayose laundered public funds and acquired properties through proxies using illegal cash transactions.
Among the allegations were that he received cash in dollars delivered by Obanikoro through a private jet, and that he used associates like Abiodun Agbele to buy properties with the illicit funds.
However, the defence, led by senior lawyers Kanu Agabi and Olalekan Ojo, filed a no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC failed to tie the alleged crimes directly to Fayose.
They pointed out that no direct communication linked Fayose to either Dasuki or Obanikoro regarding the funds.
Senator Obanikoro later stated that the money involved was not from government coffers but private political donations.
No co-conspirator, including Agbele, was charged alongside Fayose.
Bank officials also confirmed that the transactions were legitimate and did not raise regulatory alarms at the time.
EFCC’s lead investigator, Abubakar Madaki, under cross-examination, admitted there was no hard evidence linking the funds directly to any wrongdoing by Fayose.
Justice Aneke, in his ruling, agreed that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support the charges, and therefore dismissed the case.
The decision marks a significant legal victory for Fayose and a setback for the EFCC, which has faced criticism over the way it handles high-profile corruption cases involving political figures.
Reacting after the ruling, Fayose thanked his legal team and reiterated his earlier stance that the charges were politically motivated.
He said his acquittal was a victory for truth and the rule of law.
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