EFCC arraigns Fani-Kayode, ex-Finance Minister, others
(Nigeria) A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode,
was on Tuesday, arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for
allegedly laundering N4.9 billion.
Fani-Kayode, who served as the Director of Media and
Publicity in the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan,
was arraigned alongside former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman.
Also charged with Fani-Kayode were Danjuma Yusuf and a
company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned
them on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and
unlawful payment of money to the tune of N4.9 billion.
Fani-Kaoyde and others pleaded not guilty.
After their arraignment, the Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo,
informed the court that he was prepared to proceed with the trial at any date
of adjournment.
Meanwhile, counsel to the first and second accused, Mr Ayo
Adedipe, SAN and Mr Fred Orbih, told the court that a bail application had been
filed on behalf of the defendants.
But counsel to the third accused, Mr S.I. Ameh, said he had
yet to file a bail application.
Responding, Oyedepo, informed the court that he had only
been served with the application of the first and second accused, adding that
he required time to reply.
Justice Sule Hassan, in a short ruling, adjourned the case
to July 1 for hearing of the bail applications.
The judge, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded
in prison custody pending determination of their bail application.
The accused were alleged to have committed the offences
between January and March 2015.
On counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully
retained about N3.8 billion which they ``reasonably ought to have known formed
part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.’’
On counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have
unlawfully used about N970 million which they ``reasonably ought to have known
formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.’’
Meanwhile, on counts 15 to17, Fani-Kayode, together with a
man, Olubode Oke, still at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of
about N30 million in excess of the amount allowed by law without going through
a financial institution.
Fani-Kayode, was also alleged to have made payments to one
Paste Poster Co. (PPC) of No. 125, Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts
allowed by law.
The offences, according to the EFCC, contravene the
provisions of Sections 15 (3), (4), 16 (2), (b) and 16 (5) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Comments
Post a Comment