A Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges in the protracted N2.2 billion money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke who delivered the judgement upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case that would warrant the former governor to enter a defence.
“The prosecution failed to link the defendant to the alleged crimes in a manner that warrants this court to call upon him to open his defence,” the judge stated.
Fayose had been standing trial for several years on allegations of financial misconduct and money laundering allegedly committed during his tenure as governor of Ekiti State.
The EFCC had accused him of receiving illicit funds and mismanaging state resources, but the court found the prosecution’s evidence insufficient to proceed to the defence stage of the trial.
With this ruling, Fayose walks free of all charges in the high-profile case, bringing a significant chapter of legal battles to a close.
More details to follow…
