Nigerian High Court Acquits Ex-Governor Fayose of ₦2.2 Billion Money Laundering Charges

The Federal High Court in Lagos has officially acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges relating to the alleged laundering of ₦2.2 billion. The decision was delivered on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, ending what has been a protracted legal contest between Fayose and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In its decisive ruling, the court accepted Fayose’s “no-case submission,” holding that prosecutors failed to establish a prima facie case. The presiding judge concluded that the EFCC did not present sufficient evidence to warrant the continuation of the case, and thus dismissed all charges without requiring Fayose to enter a defense.

The court’s ruling comes in the wake of key political meetings involving Fayose. In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door session at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with Fayose, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, and other influential opposition figures such as Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

Shortly before the judgment, Fayose visited President Tinubu at his Lagos residence during the Sallah celebration. Addressing journalists after the meeting, Fayose voiced his continued faith in Tinubu’s leadership, commending the president’s economic stabilization efforts and urging support across party lines even as a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member.

Just weeks before the verdict, concerns were reported regarding alleged government efforts to derail the prosecution. Insiders had claimed that key officials were working behind the scenes to secure a favorable outcome for Fayose, despite what sources described as substantial evidence of wrongdoing.