Alao-Akala: Court Acquits Former Governor in N11.5bn Corruption Charges

• Oyo state's former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and two others have escaped jail term over the corruption charges preferred against them by the EFCC
• The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan discharged Alao-Akala and his colleagues, ruling that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a case against them
• Meanwhile, former Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, was re-arraigned by the EFCC on an amended money laundering charge

Ibadan, Oyo state - The former governor of Oyo state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has been discharged and acquitted of an N11.5 billion corruption charges by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Nigerian Tribune reports.

The suit was instituted against the former governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Alao-Akala was discharged and acquitted along with a former deputy chief whip of the Senate, Hosea Agboola and a business mogul, Femi Babalola.

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In another report by The Guardian, the trial which lasted for 11 years was presided over by a three-man panel led by Justice Jimi Olukayode Bada.

According to the court, the anti-graft commission failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

The three defendants who were physically present at the court during the hearing commended the judiciary for the judgment.

EFCC re-arraigns Fayose

Meanwhile, Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti state governor was on Thursday re-arraigned before a Federal High Court by the EFCC, P.M News confirms.

Fayose alongside his company was re-arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and one of his associates, Abiodun Agbele, were alleged to have taken possession of N1.219 billion to fund Fayose’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.

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Fayose visits Tinubu in Lagos, says he remains a PDP member

In a previous report by Legit.ng, Fayose on Tuesday, October 12, visited the Lagos residence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to felicitate with him after his return to the country following a successful medical trip abroad.

The visit, however, sent sparked reactions with some political watchers suggesting that Fayose might be heading to the APC.

However, Fayose clarified that despite his visit to the former Lagos state governor, he remained a PDP chieftain.

Source: Legit.ng