Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode had partial reprieve yesterday when the Federal High Court Ikoyi discharged and acquitted him of thirty-eight counts of money laundering charges out of the forty count charge. The judge applauded the submission of the prosecution and the defense but said the prosecution has failed woefully to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, thirty-eight offenses in the forty count charge.
Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode had partial reprieve yesterday when the Federal High Court Ikoyi discharged and acquitted him of thirty-eight counts of money laundering charges out of the forty count charge.
The presiding judge, Rita Ofili Ajumogobia said in considering the issue of no case submission as filed by the defense counsel, certain laid down principles needed to be considered, such as the following:
- Has the prosecution led any evidence to link the accused person to the commission of the offense?
- Is the evidence adduced by the prosecution so credible to sway the court to compel the accused person to enter his defense; and
- Is the evidence so adduced make meaning and sense to any discerning minds?
She applauded the submission of the prosecution and the defense but said the prosecution has failed woefully to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, thirty-eight offenses in the forty count charge. According to Justice Ajumogobia, the EFCC has led evidence to show the ingredient of the offence in only counts 25 and 26 which will necessitate the minister to enter his defence.
Counts 25 reads: “That you, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or before 20th Sept. 2006, while serving as minister of culture and tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a transaction exceeding N500,000 which was not done through financial institution, by accepting cash payment of N1 million, which sum was further paid into your personal account number, 103450252601 with First Inland Bank PLc Apapa branch, now FCMB, through one Supo Agbaje, your administrative staff, now at large.
Count 26 reads, “That you, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or before 20th Sept. 2006, while serving as minister of culture and tourism of the Federal republic of Nigeria, in lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a transaction exceeding N500,000 which was not done through financial institution, by accepting cash payment of N1.1 million, which sum was further paid into your personal account number, 103450252601 with First Inland Bank PLc Apapa branch, now FCMB, through one Supo Agbaje, your administrative staff, now at large.
Dr Abiodun Layonu who lead two other lawyers Tola Oshobi, T. Adigun for the defense asked the court to give them short adjournment consequently, the case was adjourned till 8 December, when Fani-Kayode is expected to open his defense on those two counts.