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Tag: Ayodele Fayose

  • JUST IN: Court strikes out money laundering charges against Fayose

    JUST IN: Court strikes out money laundering charges against Fayose

    A Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged and acquitted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, of all charges in his long-standing money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    TheNewsGuru reports that the court stated that the evidence presented by the anti-graft agency was insufficient to sustain the charges.

    The court during its judgment upheld the former governor’s no-case submission, effectively ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him to warrant further defense.

    Recall that Fayose was standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering during his tenure as governor, with charges dating back to 2018.

    He was initially arraigned by the EFCC shortly after leaving office and re-arraigned in 2019 alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited.

    The EFCC had accused Fayose of receiving N2.2bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, during the 2014 Ekiti governorship election.

    According to the anti-graft agency, the funds were part of a broader N6.9bn disbursed for phantom contracts and allegedly laundered by Fayose.

    The prosecution said the funds were funnelled through Sylvan Mcnamara Limited, a company linked to Obanikoro, and delivered in cash to Fayose using bullion vans and private aircraft.

    The EFCC alleged that the money was used to acquire high-value properties in Lagos and Abuja, often using associates and shell companies to conceal ownership.

    However, despite what the EFCC described as detailed testimonies and financial trail, Justice Aneke ruled that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to sustain the allegations.

    The court agreed with the defence’s position that the charges lacked merit and dismissed the case in its entirety.

  • What ex-Gov Fayose said after visiting Tinubu

    What ex-Gov Fayose said after visiting Tinubu

    Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has said the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is in trouble and that if urgent steps are not taken, the party will soon become carcass.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Fayose, a member of the PDP, said this on Monday after a private visit to President Bola Tinubu, while addressing state house correspondents at the Lagos residence of the president.

    While stressing that his confidence in the leadership qualities of Tinubu goes beyond political reasons, the former Ekiti State Governor emphasised that he embarked on the visit to further encourage President Tinubu to continue to do what he is doing for Nigerians.

    He expressed belief in the efforts of the current administration to turn the economy of the country around, saying: “My visit is personal, to further encourage him to continue to do what he is doing for Nigerians.

    “No one is saying it is easy but there is no miracle that can turn around things overnight. From the little the president has done, we must commend him. I was one time critic of the last administration. But you cannot compare the situation now.

    “So, for me, I am here, one, to take the opportunity of his homecoming to visit him and to encourage him to to do more for Nigerians”.

    On why he decided to visit Tinubu when he is a member of the PDP, Fayose said: “Even while I was in office as a PDP governor, I have always believed in his leadership. I did not hide my support for him even before he became the president.

    “The only thing we can do as leaders of this country today, is to continue to encourage him to lift up hands, to make the public understand how uneasy it is to lead.

    “An economy that is down and today it is being stabilised; there is a difference between things changing outrightly. There is no miracle; but stabilising the economy, stabilising the currency.

    “The few courageous steps the president has taken and the achievement of this administration put hope in tomorrow for all of us”.

    On the crisis in the PDP and the role he has to play to ensure peace prevails, he said: “Let me first of all clear this, Ayo Fayose will not move from PDP to any political party, not APC. I am this year 65 years.

    “It within the choices of those who have chosen to move. Some said they saw what the president is doing. Some said they believed that the party is in trouble, and without doubt, the PDP is in trouble. That is the gospel truth.

    “I believe that if they don’t quickly take steps, the party in itself will become carcass. That is the truth. I am not in the frontline any more. I am no more the governor of a State. The little contribution I can make, I made it while I was on the seat”.

  • Photos: Fayose visits President Tinubu In Lagos

    Photos: Fayose visits President Tinubu In Lagos

    Ayodele Fayose, the former Governor of Ekiti State on Sunday visited President Bola Tinubu at his Bourdillon Road residence in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that the chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) via the microblogging platform,  X, shared photos of him and Tinubu.

    Fayose said it was a great pleasure to visit Tinubu but did not disclose any details regarding the meeting

    He wrote, “A great pleasure to visit the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in Lagos yesterday.”

  • Bode George faults Wike, Fayose for degrading PDP

    Bode George faults Wike, Fayose for degrading PDP

    Former Deputy National Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Bode George, has expressed disappointment over the show of allegiance openly displayed by former Ekiti Governor, Ayo Fayose, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

    While Fayose has openly promised to back Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Wike, on the other hand, said he had no regret for working for the victory of President Bola Tinubu, whom he swore to continue supporting.

    George admitted that he found their behaviour appalling, lamenting that their endorsement is degrading the party before the Nigerian voting public.

    The PDP chieftain disclosed this when he was featured as a guest on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

    He said, “If it is true that former Governor Fayose openly rejected the party and said he is going to work for the APC governor, he has defined his direction. From his ward, they should make arrangements for an investigation within the confine of Ekiti State before they report. I am sure there are a lot of old hands, too, in Ekiti.

    “Even Ayo knows that you cannot say you are a member of this party, a two-term governor, to now say you are working openly for the governor of the opposition party, something is wrong.

    “On that of Wike, I take it that we can still resolve this crisis because people are talking (about) what he is doing. I don’t agree with what he is doing now. As an elder of the party, it is degrading the PDP before the electorate and we need to convince the electorate. The party is like a family. When you have a problem within the family, do you go to the marketplace to start talking and whining?”

    George also lashed out at the APC, saying there is nothing special about the ruling party.

    According to him, even a crisis-ridden PDP is a far better option than the APC, which he claimed was an aggregation of ‘strange bedfellows.’

    “Is the APC party better than us even with this crisis? Are they any better? Their party is a congregation of strange bedfellows.

    “Ganduje can’t even manage the party. But we should be able to rise above this pettiness and selfishness on all sides so the party can realign itself,” he stated.

  • Fayose no longer our member- Ekiti PDP

    Fayose no longer our member- Ekiti PDP

    The Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended the expulsion of former Governor Ayodele Fayose for allegedly acting against the party’s interests.

    The measure was part of the submissions made to the Tom Ikimi-led Disciplinary Panel and the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Reconciliation Committee.

    The state PDP Caretaker Chairman, Dare Adeleke, made the disclosure during a press briefing on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti.

    Adeleke stated that the call for Fayose’s expulsion was due to his alleged anti-party activities and misconduct, including his public endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This, he said, has brought embarrassment to the PDP and could mislead the public about the party’s true values.

    He urged the national leadership to expel Fayose and his allies, warning that keeping them in the PDP would be detrimental, as their loyalty no longer lies with the party.

     

    He said: “It is with deep concern that I must address the anti-party activities of Ayo Fayose and his cohorts. His public declarations and serial endorsements of the opposition are a direct affront to the values and unity of our great party.

    “I strongly condemn these actions and encourage him to take the bold and honest step of officially decamping rather than openly aligning himself with an opposing party and misleading others into his self-serving interests. His actions mislead the public, giving them a distorted and false image of what the PDP stands for. Our focus is on strengthening Ekiti PDP, and such behavior only serves to weaken our collective efforts.

    “We are pleased to say Fayose is no longer a member of PDP. So, whatever he says he is saying it to massage the ego of his boss and paymaster, Governor Oyebanji. Because if a man could shout on top of the roof that BAO has come to his house 18 times in two years, what is he doing there?

    “Mr Fayose is a survivalist. He is a person that wants everything for himself. If a person could sponsor his child as a PDP candidate and in the middle of the game he withdrew his child from the race to support the APC based on material gain. Will you take such a person as seriously?

    “He needs to say something sweet to get money from Oyebanji. He has taken the caretaker committee to court four times within two months the assumed office solely to weaken PDP at the instance of his paymaster”.

  • Fayose: “PDP is gone; crisis gone too far; reconciliation late”

    Fayose: “PDP is gone; crisis gone too far; reconciliation late”

    Mr Ayodele Fayose, a former Governor of Ekiti State and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed regret over the crisis rocking the party, describing it as “embarrassing, unnecessary”.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports former Governor Fayose to have said the PDP as a party is gone and that the crisis rocking the party has gone too far while insisting that reconciliation efforts are coming too late.

    Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Fayose said that the suspension and counter-suspension within the party has brought the party too low to the level of embarrassment which according to him is not necessary.

    “The current situation in our party has made a mockery of suspension and counter-suspension, especially at that level of leadership. And sadly now, the current situation in the party has taken the party so low to the level of embarrassment that is most unnecessary,” he said.

    The ex-Ekiti governor said the current crisis in the main opposition party is as a result of loss of the 2023 general election to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said it will need a divine intervention for the PDP to hold together again as a strong political party that will challenge for the top political positions in the country.

    “The mismanagement and arrogance of a few today is haunting the party and they say when the head is sick the whole body is gone. So, it will need God’s intervention, it will need a miracle for this party to be put together again,” Fayose said.

    On Friday, a Federal High Court in Abuja barred the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) from removing Umar Damagum as the Acting National Chairman of the party, a ruling Fayose said has tied the hands of everyone in the party.

    Asked whether Damagum should step aside, Fayose said whatever his suggestion is at the moment won’t matter because a court of law has taken a decision on the matter.

    Furthermore, the ex-governor also debunked reports that he had declared interest in becoming the national chairman of the PDP, saying that the position is too hot for his age now.

    He said he does not want to seek for any position in the party either now or in the nearest future.

    “There was a write-up going round yesterday that I have declared for national chairman. That is an irresponsible statement that is not from me and will never be from me.

    “I don’t even want to be anything in the party anymore, I don’t even want appointment of any sort. I never said I have declared for national chairman of the party – God forbid, that seat is too hot for my age now. I don’t want such and I will never aspire for such,” Fayose said.

    He added: “The Publicity Secretary of the PDP is suspending another person in the party and vice versa; the Legal Adviser. So, where is the party? The party is gone!

    “This crisis is unfortunate; very, very unfortunate. I believe that the matter has crossed the rubicon. The matter has gone far. Even if you want to solve this matter, how do you put the trust back? So, I rather want to believe that it is too far in the day to call for reconciliation”.

  • Why Atiku should not run for president in 2027 – Ex-Gov Fayose

    Why Atiku should not run for president in 2027 – Ex-Gov Fayose

    Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has no basis to contest the 2027 presidential election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports former Governor Fayose said this on Sunday while discussing issues surrounding the escalated crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    “I am sure at this stage, with all due respect to him, he would rather want to stay away from the politics of contesting election again. By the time Asiwaju will finish, Atiku Abubakar will probably be 80 or 81.

    “So, what will be the attraction? He should leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. I respect him but I think Nigerians are craving for younger generations than ever before. So, what are we talking about? On what basis would Atiku come and contest again?

    “Like I always say, we can defeat APC. But when you don’t have a party, how do you defeat them? When you complain about APC, when you don’t have a party, Obi is almost the voice of opposition now. The press will call Obi than call the PDP,” Fayose said.

    Speaking when he featured on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, the former Governor of Ekiti stressed that the PDP finds it hard to find a pathway because the party is sitting on truth, equity and progress, adding that the current situation in the PDP has taken the party to the level of embarrassment.

    TNG reports Fayose insisted that the crisis in the PDP has gone too far and that the call for reconciliation is too late.

    “The current situation in our party has made a mockery of suspension and counter-suspension,.. the current situation in the party has taken the party so low to the level of embarrassment that is most unnecessary.

    “The Publicity Secretary of the PDP is suspending another person in the party and vice versa; the Legal Adviser. So, where is the party? The party is gone!

    “This crisis is unfortunate; very, very unfortunate. I believe that the matter has crossed the rubicon. The matter has gone far. Even if you want to solve this matter, how do you put the trust back?

    “So, I rather want to believe that it is too far in the day to call for reconciliation. I am becoming a prophet indeed. Maybe the journey of my life will end up in the vineyard of the Lord. You never can tell,” Fayose said.

  • Fayose slammed for saying Northerners are cause of Tinubu’s problem

    Fayose slammed for saying Northerners are cause of Tinubu’s problem

    The former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has come under criticism over his remark regarding marriage practices in Northern Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Fayose during a recent interview with Channels claimed that the practice of poor men marrying  many wives and children, an experience he witnessed in the North, is a problem to Nigeria’s growth.

    According to the ex governor, President Bola Tinubu’s inability to address economic hardship was due to  “indiscriminate” childbearing and marriage in the North.

    Reacting, Ovation publisher and People Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu via his X handle on Tuesday, berated Fayose over his remark, emphasizing on the urgent need to reset the country as we can no longer afford the blame game at this critical time.

    He said, “My dear Brother AYO FAYOSE, I have just two questions Sir: who is more destructive to the nation, the poor man with plenty wives and children or the politician with one wife and many high maintenance girlfriends, who waste public resources on extravagant lifestyles including private jets? Who is more productive, the politician who steals the sweats and resources of the citizens or the poor man who sends his many poor wives and childten to the farmlands to grow crops for everyone of us!!!

    “Your Excellency, my dear Brother, please, let’s all accept that we’ve failed this country and we need urgent reset. We cannot afford the blame games at this perilous time… May God forgive our transgressions… Warmest regards always…”

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  • Ex-Gov Fayose’s trial for alleged money laundering stalled

    Ex-Gov Fayose’s trial for alleged money laundering stalled

    The alleged money laundering trial of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, could not proceed on Thursday before the Federal High Court in Lagos, as the court did not sit.

    The trial Judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, was said to be on an official assignment.

    The case has been adjourned until July 1 for the continuation of trial.

    Fayose is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N6.9 billion fraud and money laundering.

    He was first arraigned on Oct. 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatotegun, alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering offences.

    He had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail on Oct. 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with sureties in like sum.

    The defendant was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following the EFCC’s petition.

    He had also pleaded not guilty to the charges and was allowed to continue on the earlier bail granted, while the case was adjourned for trial.

    The commission has since opened its case before Justice Aneke, and is still leading witnesses in evidence.

    Trial will now continue on the next adjourned date.

    According to the charge, on June 17, 2014, Fayose and one Abiodun Agbele were said to have taken possession of the sum of N1.2 billion for purposes of funding his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    Fayose was alleged to have received a cash payment of $5m from the then Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, without going through any financial institution.

    He was also alleged to have retained the sum of N300 million in his account and took control of the aggregate sum of about N622 million which he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    He was further alleged to have procured De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd., to retain the aggregate sum of N851 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    Besides, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sum of about N1.6 billion to acquire properties in Lagos and Abuja, which he reasonably ought to have known formed part of crime proceeds.

    He was also alleged to have used the sum of N200 million to acquire a property in Abuja, in the name of his elder sister Moji Oladeji, which sum he ought to know also forms crime proceeds.

    The offences contravene the provisions of sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

  • HARDSHIP! Buhari’s admin took Nigeria half a century backward within 8yrs – Fayose

    HARDSHIP! Buhari’s admin took Nigeria half a century backward within 8yrs – Fayose

    Ex- Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has said that former President, Muhammadu Buhari took Nigeria 50 years backward during his eight-year administration.

    Fayose noted this during an interview on a national tv program.

    The former governor said Buhari’s bad decisions are responsible for the current Economic hardship faced in the country.

    Fayose, however, cautioned President Bola Tinubu to stop describing his predecessor as a blessing to Nigeria.

    He said “he (Buhari) threw us back to 50 years of our history.”

    Fayose described the Buhari government as one of “total regret, and today, the consequences of yesterday are manifesting, and it’s so disturbing and sad.

    He said, “Look at the eight years of President Buhari, what would be left of a country like Nigeria as of today even if Tinubu means well? Where do we place the debts?”