Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has been discharged and acquitted of all charges in the N2.2 billion fraud case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos upheld Fayose’s no-case submission, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish any credible evidence to warrant his further trial.
The court held that the EFCC did not make a prima facie case against the former governor, effectively bringing an end to the protracted legal battle that spanned several years.
Fayose, who governed Ekiti State from 2014 to 2018, was accused of diverting funds during his tenure. But the court ruled that the allegations could not be substantiated with the evidence presented by the anti-graft agency.
Speaking shortly after the ruling, one of Fayose’s legal counsels described the judgment as “a victory for the rule of law.”
As of press time, the EFCC is yet to issue an official statement on whether it will appeal the decision.
