Lagos – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) on Thursday closed its case in the trial of Femi
Fani-Kayode, charged with money laundering, while serving
as Minister of Aviation .
Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, is standing trial
on an amended 40-count charge bordering on money
laundering, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
When the case was mentioned on Thursday, the
prosecution counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, through a letter
delivered by Mr Vitalis Ahaotu, informed the court of the
closure of its case.
The defence counsel, Mr Wale Akoni (SAN), did not object
to the letter by the Prosecution.
He, however, informed the court of his intention to file a no-
case submission to the charges against his client.
Consequently, Justice Rita-Ofili Ajumogobia gave the
defence 21 days within which to file their application before
the court and ordered the prosecution to respond within
seven days, on receipt of the process.
She adjourned the case till Oct. 28 for adoption of final
written addresses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC
had opened its case on March 10 and called five witnesses
to testify.
Among the witnesses were the Investigating Police Officers,
bank legal officers, and a former aide to Fani-Kayode.
NAN recalls that 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.
However, the former minister was re-arraigned before
Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, following the transfer of
Mohammed from the Lagos Division.
The accused was again re-arraigned before Ajumogobia on
Feb. 11, 2013, following the transfer of Murtala-Nyako.
On March 6, Fani-Kayode was again arraigned before
Ajumogobia, following the amendment of the 47-count
charge by the EFCC.
The commission had dropped seven of the counts.
Ajumogobia is the third judge to sit over the case in the last
five years.
In the charge, the former minister was alleged to have
transacted business with funds exceeding N500, 000
without going through a financial institution.
The accused was also alleged to have accepted cash
payments in the tune of about N100 million, while he held
sway as Minister of Aviation and Minister of Culture and
Tourism, respectively.
The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 15(1)
(a) (b) (c) (d) and 15 (2) (a) (b) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act, 2004. (NAN)
Source: Vanguard

Femi your sins are forgiven, go and insult the president no more