A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges in the high-profile N2.2 billion money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment on Tuesday morning, the presiding judge upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case requiring the former governor to open 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 court held.
The ruling brings an end to years of legal battles stemming from allegations of financial misappropriation and money laundering during Fayose’s tenure as governor of Ekiti State.
The case, which had dragged on for several years, was a key part of the EFCC’s wider efforts to prosecute high-profile political figures accused of corruption.
In a related development during the trial, the court also granted Fayose leave to travel abroad for medical treatment, following a separate application by his legal team.
The EFCC is yet to respond to the court’s decision at the time of filing this report.
