In a major legal victory, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has been cleared of all charges in the ₦6.9 billion money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos upheld a no-case submission by Fayose, ruling that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case linking him to the alleged offences.
Fayose was first arraigned in 2018 and later re-arraigned on 11 counts bordering on money laundering and theft. The charges included the alleged receipt of ₦1.2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser for his 2014 gubernatorial campaign and a $5 million cash transaction allegedly facilitated by former Defence Minister Musiliu Obanikoro—without passing through any financial institution.
The EFCC also accused the former governor of laundering over ₦1.6 billion through entities such as De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd to acquire properties. His company, Spotless Investment Ltd, was listed as a co-defendant.
However, in court, Fayose’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the prosecution failed to prove any wrongdoing, stressing that no co-conspirators were charged alongside the defendant. The court agreed, citing the absence of sufficient evidence.
The ruling brings an end to a long-running trial that has spanned nearly seven years, marking a legal win for Fayose, who has consistently maintained his innocence.
