After six years trial, the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, on Wednesday discharged and acquitted a former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose.
The usually outspoken former governor had been standing trial on criminal charges involving money laundering and fraud.
But on Wednesday, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court discharged the former governor in his ruling on Fayose’s no case submission filed and argued by his counsel, Messrs Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
It would be recalled that Fayose was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N2.2 billion fraud and money laundering when EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), first arraigned him on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd.
They were arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering, stealing, and fraud but he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.
Subsequently, he was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following a petition by EFCC.
He similarly pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted.
On May 20, 2025 the court reserved its ruling on a no case submission, brought by the defence, after hearing arguments from counsel.
In the ruling on Wednesday, the Court held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the former governor.
He also held that the witnesses and documentary evidences tendered by prosecution were not sufficient to establish the guilt of the defendant and consequently discharged and acquitted Fayose of the allegations.
According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti, fund they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Fayose, was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.
He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his account and took control of the aggregate sum of about N622 million which he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
He was further alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain the aggregate sum of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
Besides, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sum of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, fund he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.
The former Ekiti State governor was also alleged to have used the sum of N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister Moji Oladeji, fund he ought to also know formed crime proceeds.
According to the EFCC, the offences contravened the provisions of sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.
