Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has been freed by the Federal High Court in Lagos in the case of money laundering and theft amounting to N6.9 billion.
Fayose was discharged by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke after upholding his no-case submission filed to challenge his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the court, the commission failed to link Fayose to the crime, nor was a prima facie case made against him to warrant further defence.
Fayose, who was first arraigned in 2018, is accused of taking possession of ₦1.2 billion for his 2014 gubernatorial campaign and receiving $5 million in cash from Obanikoro, bypassing financial institutions.
He is also accused of laundering various sums, retaining and using over ₦1.6 billion to acquire properties through proxies and companies such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd., in violation of several provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The former governor and his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, were subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Aneke on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and theft.
