Court discharges, acquits former Ekiti governor Fayose in N2.2 billion money laundering case

 Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was on Tuesday discharged and acquitted by a Federal High Court in Lagos in a long-running N2.2 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a ruling delivered this morning, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke upheld the no-case submission filed by Fayose’s defense team.

The judge stated that the EFCC had failed to establish a prima facie case that would require the former governor to enter a defense.

The ruling effectively ends the trial that has been ongoing for several years, dating back to his time as governor of Ekiti State.

Fayose was first arraigned by the EFCC in 2018 on charges of alleged financial misappropriation and money laundering.

The charges related to his receipt of funds from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for his 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

The prosecution had called several witnesses and presented various documents to support its case, but the court found the evidence to be insufficient and lacking in credibility.

ALSO READ :Dangote vows to slash cooking gas prices, threatens direct sales to consumers

The defense team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi, had argued that the prosecution’s case was built on circumstantial evidence and lacked the direct link required to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

They maintained that the EFCC had not been able to connect Fayose directly to the alleged illicit transactions.

Following the ruling, a jubilant Fayose, who was present in court, expressed his gratitude to God and the judiciary for the verdict.

His supporters, both in and outside the courtroom, celebrated the outcome, hailing it as a victory for justice.

The EFCC has not yet released a statement regarding the judgment, but the commission has the right to appeal the court’s decision.

This verdict marks a significant development in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, with legal experts and analysts closely watching the implications of the ruling on high-profile corruption cases.