The Federal High Court in Lagos has formally discharged former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose after striking out the ₦6.9 billion money laundering and theft charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke ruled on Wednesday that the EFCC did not establish a prima facie case linking Fayose to the alleged offences and thus, no further defence was required.
Fayose, alongside his company Spotless Investment Limited, was re-arraigned in 2019 on 11 counts, including the receipt of ₦1.2 billion and $5 million in cash for political campaigning, and the laundering of various sums through proxies for real estate purchases. The funds were allegedly tied to the office of the former National Security Adviser.
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During proceedings on May 19, defence lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, maintained that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence or charge co-conspirators alongside Fayose, undermining the validity of the alleged offences.
In light of the court’s finding that no allowable case had been established, Justice Aneke formally discharged Fayose and his company from the charges, bringing the legal proceedings to a close.
The post JUST IN: Fayose beats EFCC, as court discharges ex-gov of ₦6.9bn money laundering charges appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
