The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced its intention to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, which on Wednesday acquitted and discharged former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose of allegations involving ₦6.9 billion in fraud.
In a statement shared on its official X account, the Commission indicated that it is currently reviewing the decision delivered by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke and has commenced briefing its legal team in preparation for an appeal.
Fayose and his firm, Spotless Investment Limited, were re-arraigned on July 2, 2019, on an 11-count charge of money laundering and theft. The case, originally filed in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, was subsequently transferred to Justice Aneke.
Justice Aneke, delivering the judgement, upheld a no-case submission filed by Fayose’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), stating that the EFCC had failed to establish a prima facie case. He ruled that there was no substantial evidence linking Fayose to the alleged crimes, adding that the prosecution’s witnesses and submitted documents did not meet the threshold required for conviction.
The court further held that the foundational offences lacked merit. It emphasized that charges such as criminal breach of trust and conspiracy must be substantiated by evidence of collusion, none of which was presented against the former governor.
