The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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 counts 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 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 47 counts.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and Justice Mohammed had granted him bail in the sum of N200m, 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 counts 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 N100m, 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. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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gej is a fool. We shudnt defend him any more. So dis is d product of dia closed-door meeting. Am embittered. Gej is 2 corrupt
ReplyDeleteo.o dennis ,hw many times hv u called ur father a fool at home..idiot duck mouthed like u.did u read wel and undstnd at all? they said 7 out of 47 were dropped .
ReplyDeleteWhat were u expecting? its a trade by batter system, that's how politics is managed in third world corrupt countries.
ReplyDeleteMark
Nigeria under Jonathan is the best chance for any criminal to be set free. EFCC should be disbanded insted of this mockery under Jonathan to continue
ReplyDeleteThat's he ported to pdp, a safe haven
ReplyDeleteOgbeni Anonymous, where is it written here that 7 out of 47 charges was dropped? Seemsyou are ones of them. Open ur eyes wella.
ReplyDeleteThis write-up suggests that the case against Fani-Kayode has been dropped, not just 7 out of 47 charges. Is that not the case?
ReplyDeleteAnybody that is calling another leader a fool that means he did not has father at home or his father is a mad man on the street some peopl wl just see headlines they wl be coment...some people wl bcs of GEJ matter trailer wl kill them bf there glory come
ReplyDeletePlease stop exhibiting your ignorance. It means that the prosecutor have submitted all its evidence & has also called all its witness. The next thing is for Fani Kayode's Lawyers to defend him or counter the evidence from EFCC lawyers.
ReplyDeleteWe expected just exactly that to happen as that was the reason for this red-mouthed Fani making a U turn to PDP. Soon he will be made an ambassador to one country. There is going to be a militant group to fight these trends since politicians and the judiciary are actively involved in ensuring crime, fraud and corruption thrive.
ReplyDeleteIs english so hard to comprehend? Dey dropped 7 charges in March..d case is closed now..GEJ is a shameless and corrupt leader
ReplyDeletewhat are they showing us in Nigeria??? that you can commit crime and go free when you are a supporter of GEJ??? There is God oo
ReplyDeleteIs very easy to say if u are in power u wl no how power is sweeth if u cant be them u join them my brother even those who call themselves prigressives can do more than that
ReplyDelete