By SANDRA UMEH

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, discharged and acquitted a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, charged with money laundering and fraud.

Aneke discharged the former governor, while ruling on his no case submission filed and argued by his counsel, Messrs Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fayose was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N2.2 billion fraud and money laundering.

EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had first arraigned him on Oct. 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd.

They were arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering, stealing, and fraud.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

Fayose, was however, subsequently, re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following EFCC?s petition.

He, had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted.

On May 20, the court reserved its ruling on a no case submission, brought by the defence, after hearing arguments from counsel.

Delivering ruling on Wednesday, Aneke, held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the former governor.

He also held that the witnesses and documentary evidences tendered by prosecution were not sufficient to establish the guilt of the defendant.

He consequently discharged and acquitted Fayose of the allegations.

According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion, for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti, fund they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Fayose, was alleged to have received a cash payment of the sum of five million dollars from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.

He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his account and took control of the aggregate sum of about N622 million which he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

He was further alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd and Still Earth Ltd, to retain the aggregate sum of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

Besides, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sum of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, fund he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

The former Ekiti State governor was also alleged to have used the sum of N200 million, to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister Moji Oladeji, fund he ought to also know formed crime proceeds.

According to the EFCC, the offences contravened the provisions of sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

NAN reports that the prosecution called about 20 witnesses and tendered plethora of evidences in the trial. (NAN)

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