Justice Rita Ofili- Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday, November 17th, 2014 told a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode that he has a case to answer, on the charges of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
In a ruling delivered by on Monday, Justice Ajumogobia ordered Fani-Kayode to prepare his defense on counts 25 and 26 of the charges imputed to him.
"The prosecution has made a prima facie case on count 25 and 26 and as a result, the accused should appear before the court and open his defence on the mentioned counts", she said.
She, however, discharged and acquitted Fani-Kayode on all other counts. Fani-Kayode was arraigned on an amended 40-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of about N100, 219,500 ( One Hundred Million, Two Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Five Hundred Naira only). At the last hearing, after the EFCC had concluded its case against, the former minister, he elected not to put in a defence and instead filed a no- case submission.
In the no-case submission, Fani-Kayode submitted that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case of fraud against him and urged the court to so hold. He argued that there was no nexus between him and the alleged offence. However, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. EFCC urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission on the ground that it was incompetent and frivolous, and also pray the court to order Fani- Kayode to open his defense on the charges. Justice Ajumogobia adjourned the matter till December 5th, 2014 for continuation of trial. Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
17th November, 2014
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