BREAKING: Ex-Ekiti governor, Fayose defeats EFCC, got cleared of ₦6.9bn money laundering charges in court

Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has been cleared of alleged N6.9 billion money laundering charges by the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday after has discharged a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, of charges bordering on nearly eight years legal battle.

He was accused of money laundering and theft to the tune of ₦6.9 billion while serving as governor of Ekiti State.

The clearance from the money laundering allegation followed the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s inability to link the money to Mr Ayo Fayose.

The Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke submitted that the anti-graft agency couldn’t establish a prima facie evidence against Fayose that would warrant him to open his defence.

Having been arraigned for the first time in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, the EFCC later sought for the transfer of the case to Justice Aneke, accusing Fayose of receiving the sum of ₦1.2bn for his 2014 governorship campaign and collecting $5m in cash from a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.

He was also accused of laundering various sums, including over ₦1.6bn, which was allegedly used to acquire properties through companies such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd.

Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on 11 counts bordering on money laundering and theft.

The alleged offences were said to have been committed while he served as governor and involved funds reportedly linked to the Office of the National Security Adviser.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Fayose’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the EFCC failed to prove any of the allegations.

He also noted that Abiodun Agbele, who was allegedly involved in the transactions, 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.

Fayose was later cleared of money laundering.