Hobnob News — Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he has no case to answer in the ongoing N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Appearing before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, Fayose, through his legal team led by former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), filed a no-case submission, asserting that the EFCC had failed to establish any credible evidence linking him to the alleged offences.
The EFCC had slammed 11-count charges against Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, represented by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), accusing them of stealing, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.
However, Agabi argued that the prosecution’s case lacked substance. He highlighted that Abiodun Agbele, a key figure in the alleged transactions, was not charged alongside Fayose — a move that, according to Agabi, weakens the EFCC’s case. “You cannot charge someone for conspiracy and leave out the supposed co-conspirator,” he argued.
Ojo, on his part, submitted that the credibility of the EFCC’s 13th witness, former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, had been significantly undermined. Under cross-examination, Obanikoro admitted there was no direct communication between Fayose and former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, calling into question the prosecution’s chain of evidence.
But EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), pushed back, urging the court to dismiss the no-case submission. In his counter-affidavit, Jacobs pointed to several suspicious transactions involving Fayose’s associates who allegedly helped acquire properties in Nigeria and abroad, which were later denied by those same associates.
“If the transactions were above board, why didn’t he use his own bank account or acquire the properties in his own name?” Jacobs questioned. He further stressed that Obanikoro’s statement alleging Fayose personally requested the funds and nominated Agbele to receive them, demands a proper defence from the accused.
Following heated arguments from both sides, Justice Aneke allowed Fayose to travel abroad for medical treatment as requested by Agabi and adjourned the matter to July 10, 2025, for ruling on the no-case submission.
Fayose was first arraigned in 2018 before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, who retired from the bench, prompting the reassignment of the case to Justice Aneke.
The EFCC contends that Fayose received N1.2 billion in campaign funds for his 2014 gubernatorial election and allegedly took $5 million in cash from Obanikoro, bypassing legal financial channels. He is also accused of laundering over N1.6 billion through front companies, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
The legal battle continues as the court prepares to rule on whether Fayose must open his defence — or walk away free.
