In a dramatic twist to a long-standing legal saga, the Federal High Court in Lagos has acquitted former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose of all charges relating to the alleged misappropriation of N2.2 billion in public funds. The ruling comes amid growing speculation surrounding recent private engagements between Fayose and top figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC), including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, who delivered the judgment on Tuesday, stated that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to convict the former governor. The charges, initially brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2018, had accused Fayose of receiving illicit funds linked to the national security budget under former President Goodluck Jonathan.
While the legal team representing Fayose hailed the judgment as a “victory for truth and justice,” the development has sparked fresh political discourse nationwide, particularly given Fayose’s recent warming of ties with the APC—a party he had vocally opposed during and after his tenure as governor.
Observers note that Fayose’s recent visits to the Presidential Villa and closed-door meetings with President Tinubu and other APC powerbrokers preceded today’s verdict by only a few weeks. Though no official statement has linked the political realignment to the outcome of the trial, civil society groups and opposition leaders have expressed concern about the optics and timing of the acquittal.
“This case is a litmus test for the independence of our judiciary and the credibility of our anti-corruption fight,” said a spokesperson for the Centre for Democratic Accountability. “We hope this verdict is based on merit and not on backroom political arrangements.”
Fayose, addressing journalists outside the court, reaffirmed his innocence and declared his intention to remain active in Nigeria’s political space, saying, “I have been vindicated. Nigeria must move forward, and I will continue to play my part.”