A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, of all money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, brought an end to a protracted legal battle that began shortly after Fayose left office in 2018.
In his judgment, Justice Aneke upheld the no-case submission filed by Fayose’s legal team, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant. According to the court, the EFCC did not provide sufficient evidence to warrant Fayose being called to enter a defence.
“The prosecution was unable to prove essential elements of the alleged offences,” Justice Aneke stated, adding that the burden of proof in a criminal trial rests squarely on the prosecution and must be met beyond reasonable doubt.
Fayose had been standing trial on multiple counts bordering on money laundering and financial misappropriation. The EFCC had accused him of receiving illicit funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan — part of what became known as the “Dasukigate” scandal involving the diversion of arms procurement funds.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Fayose laundered part of the funds through companies and individuals while serving as governor. The charges included conspiracy, taking possession of proceeds of unlawful activities, and fraud involving over N2.2 billion.
Fayose consistently denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. His legal team argued that the charges were politically motivated and lacked credible evidence.
Reacting to the judgment, sources close to Fayose described the ruling as a “victory for justice,” praising the court for what they called a fair and impartial trial process.
Meanwhile, the EFCC is yet to issue an official response to the judgment as of the time of this report.
The case, which has drawn public attention for years due to Fayose’s vocal political stance and high-profile status, may still see further legal developments if the EFCC chooses to appeal the ruling.
More details to follow as the story develops.
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