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 N100m money laundering charges.
Fani-Kayode, whose arraignment for the same charges was the fourth since
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 involving about N230m.
It made it 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 N100m 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
subsequently as 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 the Lagos
Division, the matter was transferred to Justice Ofili Ajumogobia, before whom
the accused was re-arraigned on February 11, 2013
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