After seven long years of legal back-and-forth, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose will finally know his fate in the N6.9 billion fraud case hanging over his head.
Justice Chukujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, is set to deliver a crucial ruling on Tuesday, July 15, on a “no-case submission” filed by Fayose’s legal team. The ruling, which could either end the trial or open the door for Fayose to begin his defence, was initially scheduled for July 10 but was postponed due to the judge’s absence.
Fayose, along with his company Spotless Investment Limited, has been battling an 11-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2018.
The Allegations
The EFCC accuses Fayose of receiving N1.2 billion in cash to fund his 2014 governorship campaign, and collecting $5 million directly from former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro. The funds, the EFCC claims, were illegally routed and did not pass through any financial institution, a violation of Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
The Defence Pushes Back
At the last court sitting on May 19, Fayose’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the prosecution had failed to make a convincing case. “What we’ve seen are mostly speculations, not hard evidence,” Agabi told the court.
He also raised concerns that a key figure in the transaction—Abiodun Agbele, who allegedly coordinated the movement of the funds—was not charged, which, he argued, weakens the EFCC’s conspiracy claim. “You can’t accuse someone of criminal conspiracy if you haven’t charged the alleged co-conspirator,” Agabi said.
EFCC Not Backing Down
But the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), strongly disagreed. He maintained that Fayose had serious questions to answer, especially around why he avoided using his personal bank accounts if the transactions were legitimate. Jacobs urged the court to dismiss the no-case application and allow the trial to continue.
What Happens Now?
Tuesday’s ruling is pivotal. If Justice Aneke rules in favour of the no-case submission, Fayose could walk free after years of legal battles. If the judge decides otherwise, the former governor will have to open his defence, taking the trial into its next—and possibly final—phase.
For Fayose, it’s a moment of reckoning. For the EFCC, it’s a test of its ability to prosecute high-profile financial crimes. And for the public, it’s yet another chapter in Nigeria’s long and complex battle against corruption in high places.
