Efcc Arraigns Fani-kayode Again, Court Grants Him N50m Bail
SAN FRANCISCO, November 10, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count of money laundering.
In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016, which has Femi Fani Kayode as the sole defendant, he was alleged to have received the cash sum of N26million paid to him by the former Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, Shuaibu Salisu on the instruction of the former NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Fani-kayode allegedly received the money through his police aid, one Victor Ehiabhi, who admitted paying the money to Fani-Kayode in cash in a written statement with Salisu.
When the five-count charge was read to Fani-Kayode before the Court, he pleaded not guilty which prompted prosecution lawyer, Johnson Ojogbane, to ask the court for a date to commence trial.
However, defence lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) informed the court about the bail application he filed for his client arguing that the offence for which the defendant is charged is bail able.
Trial judge, Justice John Tsoho, in his ruling, admitted the defendant to bail at N50million and one surety in like sum who must be a resident of the FCT and must have a landed property within the FCT.
He ordered that Fani-Kayode be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned to December 14, 2016 for trial.
Fani-Kayode, who was the Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan, is already standing trial on a 17-count charge of money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos with a former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.
They are charged with unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of N4.9 billion on the defendants.
Story by Oputah David