A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges in the long-standing N2.2 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday morning, upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, with the court declaring that the EFCC had failed to establish a prima facie case sufficient to require the former governor to enter a defence.
The former govenor had been facing trial for years over allegations of financial misappropriation and money laundering allegedly committed during his tenure as Ekiti State governor. But the judge held that the prosecution did not present credible evidence linking Fayose directly to the alleged crimes.
“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 court ruled.
In an earlier session, the court also granted him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, following a separate application filed by his legal team.
The ruling marks a major setback for the EFCC and brings a significant chapter of Fayose’s legal battles to a close—for now.
