A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the release of processes and papers in the money laundering trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fani-Kayode recently stated that he has been absolved of N4.6 billion in money laundering accusations brought against him by the EFCC.
“Yesterday the Court of Appeal quashed the charges filed against me, the former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman and others at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the EFCC for the misappropriation of 4.6 billion naira and money laundering,” Mr Fani-Kayode wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.
In 2016, the EFCC arraigned Mr Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister, alongside former finance minister Nenadi Usman before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court for fraud bothering on money laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N4.6 billion.
Also charged is Yusuf Danjuma, a former chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.
According to the charges, Mr Fani-Kayode and others committed the offence in contravention of the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Mr FanI-Kayode and defendants had each pleaded not guilty to all the 17-count charges and were granted bail.
In 2021, Mr Fani-Kayode was arrested and detained by the EFCC for allegedly forging his medical report to dodge his fraud prosecution.
However, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) on Tuesday made an application before Justice Daniel Osiagor to release all documentary evidences or processes in the suit, following the decision of an appellate court.
Usman, is charged alongside a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.
Following an appeal filed by Usman, seeking a transfer of the case on jurisdictional grounds, the court of appeal found in favour of the defendant.
When the case was called on Tuesday, Oyedepo announced an appearance for the prosecution, and informed the court of the appellate court’s decision, directing that the case be transferred to the Abuja division of the court.
He also informed the court that it is still the case of the prosecution adding that the prosecution is still leading evidence as PW 1 was still testifying.
He, consequently, sought an application for the release of all documentary evidence and exhibits in the case to the prosecution, so as to save time and avoid delay.
In a short ruling, Justice Osiagor held that in line with the decision of the appellate court, all documentary evidence as well as exhibits tendered, be released to the prosecution.
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015 in Lagos.
They were alleged to have at various times, unlawfully retained over ₦4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts of stealing and corruption.
Meanwhile, in counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about ₦30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.
The said payments are alleged to have been made to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.