A Lagos Federal High Court has freed former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all fraud charges involving N2.2 billion, bringing an end to a high-profile trial that spanned nearly seven years.
In his verdict on Wednesday,Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the former governor.
The court upheld the no-case submission filed by Fayose’s legal team, led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria Kanu Agabi and Olalekan Ojo.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had accused Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, of laundering N2.2 billion allegedly linked to campaign funds for the 2014 Ekiti governorship election.
The money was said to have originated from the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and was allegedly delivered to Fayose through former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Fayose’s lawyers had contend that none of the 13 prosecution witnesses directly linked him to the alleged fraud, and that the evidence presented was speculative and lacked substance.
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, one of the key witnesses, had testified that the funds in question were campaign donations from public sources and not proceeds of crime.
He also admitted under cross-examination that his earlier statements to the EFCC were made under pressure.
Besides, several bank officials called by the EFCC testified that all transactions involving the funds were duly documented, and none implicated Fayose personally.
A Zenith Bank branch manager had told the court that Fayose never handled or deposited the funds himself.
Fayose maintained throughout the trial that he was being politically targeted by the anti-graft agency, especially after his tenure as Governor ended and he became a vocal critic of the then-ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He expressed relief over the verdict absolving him of corruption.
He said:“I have always believed in the Nigerian judiciary.Today’s decision confirms that the truth will always prevail, no matter how long it takes.”