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abujagirl
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A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday partially upheld a no-case submission by Femi Fani-Kayode, and acquitted him of 38 out of 40 counts of money laundering charges.
Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, was charged on an amended 40-count charge, bordering on the alleged offence.
He was being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged transactions with funds exceeding N500, 000 without going through a financial institution.
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia discharged and acquitted the accused of 38 counts, while ruling on a no-case submission filed by the defence, on behalf of the accused.
The court, in its judgment, partially upheld the no-case submission of the defence, and then ordered that the accused should enter a defence in respect of counts 25 and 26.
The judge held that from the wordings of the charge, it was clear that they were basically set out in two formats, with counts one to 33 of the same format, while other counts were of a different format.
She adjourned the case to December 8 for continuation of trial.
The EFCC had opened its case on March 10.
It called a total of six witnesses including: a bank relationship officer, an investigating police officer, a bank legal officer, a public servant, a former aide to the accused, and an operator with the EFCC.
All the witnesses had given various testimonies, as to their relationship with the accused, as well as the manner of investigations conducted on him.
The EFCC closed its case on July 10, while defence counsel filed a no- case submission on behalf of the accused on August 5.
Adopting his submission, counsel to the accused, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe, (SAN) had urged the court to discharge the accused on the ground that no case had been made out against him to warrant opening a defence.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor, Mr Festus Keyamo, had argued that the offence with which the accused was charged, bordered on transacting with funds above the stipulation in the money laundering Act.
He had, therefore, submitted that it was important for the accused to enter a defence to the charge against him, and urged the court to so hold.
Fani-Kayode was first arraigned sometime in December 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed on a 47-count charge.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and Justice Mohammed had granted him bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
He was re-arraigned before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, following the transfer of Mohammed from the Lagos Division. The accused was again re-arraigned before Justice Ajumogobia on Feb. 11, 2013 after the transfer of Justice Murtala-Nyako.
He was again re-arraigned before Ajumogobia on March 6, following the amendment of the 47-count charge to 40-counts, the EFCC having dropped seven of the counts.
#FaniKayode #EFCC
Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, was charged on an amended 40-count charge, bordering on the alleged offence.
He was being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged transactions with funds exceeding N500, 000 without going through a financial institution.
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia discharged and acquitted the accused of 38 counts, while ruling on a no-case submission filed by the defence, on behalf of the accused.
The court, in its judgment, partially upheld the no-case submission of the defence, and then ordered that the accused should enter a defence in respect of counts 25 and 26.
The judge held that from the wordings of the charge, it was clear that they were basically set out in two formats, with counts one to 33 of the same format, while other counts were of a different format.
She adjourned the case to December 8 for continuation of trial.
The EFCC had opened its case on March 10.
It called a total of six witnesses including: a bank relationship officer, an investigating police officer, a bank legal officer, a public servant, a former aide to the accused, and an operator with the EFCC.
All the witnesses had given various testimonies, as to their relationship with the accused, as well as the manner of investigations conducted on him.
The EFCC closed its case on July 10, while defence counsel filed a no- case submission on behalf of the accused on August 5.
Adopting his submission, counsel to the accused, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe, (SAN) had urged the court to discharge the accused on the ground that no case had been made out against him to warrant opening a defence.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor, Mr Festus Keyamo, had argued that the offence with which the accused was charged, bordered on transacting with funds above the stipulation in the money laundering Act.
He had, therefore, submitted that it was important for the accused to enter a defence to the charge against him, and urged the court to so hold.
Fani-Kayode was first arraigned sometime in December 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed on a 47-count charge.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and Justice Mohammed had granted him bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
He was re-arraigned before Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, following the transfer of Mohammed from the Lagos Division. The accused was again re-arraigned before Justice Ajumogobia on Feb. 11, 2013 after the transfer of Justice Murtala-Nyako.
He was again re-arraigned before Ajumogobia on March 6, following the amendment of the 47-count charge to 40-counts, the EFCC having dropped seven of the counts.
#FaniKayode #EFCC
