Court acquits former Ekiti governor Fayose of N2.2bn money laundering charges
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges in the long-standing N2.2 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering the ruling, the court upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, stating that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case requiring the defendant to open his defence.
Fayose had been on trial for several years over allegations of money laundering and financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor. However, the court found the evidence presented by the EFCC insufficient to link him directly to the alleged offences.
“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 ruled.
In an earlier proceeding, the court also granted Fayose permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, following a separate application.
