The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday re-arraigned a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, before a Federal High Court, Lagos on N100 million money laundering charges.
Fani-Kayode, whose arraignment for the same charges was the fourth since they were first instituted against him in 2008, again, pleaded not guilty to all the 40 counts.
The re-arraignment before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on Thursday followed the amendment of the previous 47 counts of money laundering charges involving about N230 million.
It made the second time of arraigning the accused before Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia after two other judges had previously handled the matter.
Ofili-Ajumogobia, after the re-arraignment on Thursday granted the plea by the accused person’s lawyer, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), to allow his client to continue in the bail conditions he was earlier granted.
The judge fixed trial for March 10, 17, 18 and 19. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, assured the court that he would call all his witnesses and complete the prosecution’s case within the four days.
In the amended charges, Fani-Kayode was accused of accepting various sums of money totalling N100 million between July 7, 2006 and May 11, 2007 without passing through a financial institution.
The transaction was said to have violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act which sets the limit of cash transaction at N500,000.
The accused was said to be, within the period when the offences were allegedly committed, serving as the Minister of Culture and Tourism and afterwards the Minister of Aviation.
He was accused of violating the law by further depositing the cash payments in his investment account with the First Inland Bank, Plc, Apapa Branch (now First City Monument Bank Plc) for 90 days.
Part of the money was also said to have been deposited in the account of his wife, Regina, and daughter, Remilekun. The accounts were said to be with the same branch of First Inland Bank Plc (now FCMB).
The EFCC named various individuals, including the accused person’s wife and daughter, his “close associate”, Mark Ndifreke and Ojo Agbor as those who executed the transaction on behalf of Fani-Kayode.
Others who allegedly carried out the transaction on behalf of the accused were members of his administrative staff, Florence Salau, Daniel Atogo and Supo Agbaje.
All the named individuals were said to be at large.
The offences were said to have contravened Section 15(1)(d) and punishable under section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
He was first arraigned before Justice Ramat Mohammed on December 23, 2008. After the judge was transferred out of the Lagos Division of the court, the matter started de novo (afresh) before Justice Binta Nyako.
Following the subsequent transfer of Justice Nyako from Lagos Division, the matter was transferred to Justice Ofili Ajumogobia, before whom the accused was re-arraigned on February 11, 2013. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Kayode fani,pikin wea say I'm mama no go sleep,dat pikin no go sleep as well,you are at all time condeming and insulting GEJ,can you see yourself,you could have been better off keeping your mouth shot,see where your mouth have landed you,I hope this will serve as a lesson to lot that can not keep their mouth shot
ReplyDeleteNigerians will never be quite again. We will speak no matter the status of the person involve. There are many Fani Kayodes out there and we will keep on speaking until we rid this nation of bad governance. So never you suggest that this man should shut up against bad governance.
ReplyDeleteAnd his mouth will be running like tap water, nonsense, you bend down dey look another person yarsh and you no know say another person dey look your own too, noise maker man with foolish talk.
ReplyDeleteI laugh at you in over 250 languages. You should have kept quiet and keep attending Power Must Change Hands at prayer city. Your life would have been better of.
ReplyDeleteI pray you come out of this free, if they do not increase what it is now.
Don't mind d stupid man with his lousy mouth. His not a where that those that lives in glass house don't throw stones. He will soon face d music. Ole
ReplyDelete