Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, to dismiss the N2.2 billion fraud charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), insisting he has no case to answer.
Appearing before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Monday, Fayose’s legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Olalekan Ojo (SAN), filed a no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC’s evidence and witness testimonies were speculative and insufficient to warrant further defence.
“All the witnesses that testified for the prosecution, including the exhibits tendered, were based on mere speculations,” the defence stated.
“There is nothing linking the defendants directly to any act of criminality.”
The EFCC had, on October 18, 2018, charged Fayose and his company, Spotless Investment Limited, on 11 counts bordering on money laundering and theft of N2.2 billion.
The funds, the EFCC claimed, were delivered by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro from Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd., a firm allegedly linked to the Office of the National Security Adviser under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, and diverted for use during the 2014 Ekiti governorship election.
However, under cross-examination, Senator Obanikoro told the court that the money was sourced from campaign fundraising and donations, adding that as chairman of various campaign committees, he was entrusted with the funds.
Obanikoro also alleged coercion during his EFCC interrogation, clarifying that he had no official ties to Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd. and lacked authority to act on its behalf.
Chief Agabi further noted that Abiodun Agbele, reportedly the intermediary who handled the funds, was never arraigned, despite his pivotal role.
Bank documents presented in court reportedly showed several disbursements from Sylvan Mcnamara’s account, with Fayose’s name absent from the list of beneficiaries.
Nine bank officials also testified that none of the funds traced to Fayose’s
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