Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode on Monday, asked the
Federal High Court Abuja, to adjourn his case to allow him explore other
options of settlement aside from going to trial.
Counsel to
Fani-Kayode, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), who made the application on his behalf
said that since the sum of money involved was only N26 million, he
believed that there were other options of settlement.
Raji added
that moreover, he was new on the case and would need some time to go
over the facts of the case to enable him defend his client effectively.
“My Lord, I am just coming into the case and so I crave your indulgence to enable me familiarize myself with the case.
“Secondly, looking at the facts of the case and the money involved, I believe that there are other options we can explore.
“The
case involves the sum of N26 million and the law allows you to explore
the option of plea bargain and so many other options rather than go
through trial,” Raji said.
He said that if the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was amenable to plea bargain, the
defence would take the option. The prosecuting counsel, Mr Johnson
Ojogbane, said he was not opposing the application.
Ojogbane,
however, asked the court to take cognizance of the fact this was the
second adjournment at the instance of the defence and asked for a
definite date to commence trial.
The judge, Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter till March 14 for commencement of trial.
The
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Fani-Kayode was arraigned
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice
Tsoho on a fresh five-count charge bordering on money laundering.
The
ex-aviation minister was accused of allegedly collecting N26 million
from the Office of the Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki
and using same for media campaign.
Count two of the charge read
that;” You Femi Fani-Kayode, converted N26 million cash paid from the
office of the National Security Adviser for the purpose of media
campaign when you ought to have reasonably known that the said funds
formed part of an unlawful act contrary to section 15 (2) (b) of the
Money Laundering Act.”
Following the argument of his bail
application by the counsel who represented him on that day, Mr Ifedayo
Adedipe (SAN), he was admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million and one
surety in like sum.
NAN also reports that Fani-Kayode is facing another 17 -count charge of money laundering before the Lagos division of the court.
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