The Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges in the protracted ₦2.2 billion money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the court upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case that would require the former governor to enter a defence.
Fayose had been on trial for several years over allegations of money laundering and financial misappropriation during his tenure as Ekiti State Governor. However, the court held that the prosecution’s evidence lacked credibility and failed to directly link him to the alleged offences.
“The prosecution failed to establish any credible link between the defendant and the alleged crimes sufficient to warrant this court to call upon him to enter a defence,” the court declared.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court had granted Fayose permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, following a separate application.
