By Emmanuel Dominic 
N2.2bn Fraud Trial: Fayose Asserts Innocence, Seeks Dismissal
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has urged the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, to dismiss the N2.2 billion fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asserting that he has “no case to answer.” Fayose’s legal team, led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Chief Kanu Agabi and Olalekan Ojo, made a no-case submission before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke. They argued that the prosecution’s witnesses and evidence were based on mere speculation and lacked sufficient legal grounding to warrant a defense.
The EFCC had initially filed an 11-count charge against Fayose and Spotless Investment Limited on October 18, 2018. The agency alleged that approximately N2.2 billion was withdrawn and delivered by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro from Sylvan McNamara Limited, a company allegedly linked to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The funds were purportedly diverted for Fayose’s benefit during the 2014 Ekiti governorship election .
The trial has faced several delays, including instances where the absence of witnesses stalled proceedings . Despite these setbacks, the defense maintains that the prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case against the former governor. The court is expected to rule on the no-case submission in the coming days.
