Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has been discharged and acquitted of all money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by the Federal High Court in Lagos, upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, effectively bringing an end to the years-long trial.
The EFCC had accused the former governor of laundering N2.2 billion during his tenure in office, but the court found the prosecution’s case to be insufficient and lacking in credible evidence.
In its judgement, the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case linking Fayose to the alleged offences.
“The prosecution failed to link the defendant to the alleged crimes in a manner that warrants this court to call upon him to open his defence,” the judge stated.
The development marks a significant legal victory for the former governor, who had consistently denied the allegations.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court had also granted Fayose permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, underscoring the court’s recognition of his fundamental rights throughout the trial.
