Lagos, Nigeria, July 1, 2016 – Former Minister of Aviation and Director Media, Jonathan-Sambo Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode lives like a king even in Ikoyi Prison where has been remanded.
Fani-Kayode who was arraigned at Federal High Court in Ikoyi today spotted a white satin lace to go with a black shoe. He was looking very fresh and neat, fresher than some serving governors and ministers, forcing many to begin to think if he was really in prison; he would not have looked any better even as a free man.
He came and chatted freely with friends. A lovely lady very pretty in appearance said to be his wife made his day. It was obvious to all that Fani-Kayode is home sick and did not even care that he was in the public and took time to pad the backside of his lovely jewel even as the couples took time to have a feel of each other, chatting and close marking and caressing each other whenever they had the opportunity.
In court it was a battle of wit as two Senior Advocates of Nigeria(SAN), Chief Ferdinand Obi and Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe and another lawyer made efforts to convince his Lordship, MS. Hassan to grant their clients bail.
The other two defendants are Name Esther Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a corporate entity, Joint Trust Dimension Ltd.
The defence team led by Chief Ferdinand Obi(SAN)quoting several cases, argued that it is trite law that a suspect remains innocent until he is proven guilty by a competent court of law and that the constitution remains supreme as government embarks on anti-corruption was so as not to give the impression that Nigeria is operating marshal laws.
The Senior Advocate argued that the first defendant, Esther Usman was on admission at the Derma Laser Centres, New Jersey, United States where she was under post-surgery observation and had to come to Nigeria when she learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)needed her in respect of the case and that she should be granted bail either on self recognizance or condition on liberal terms since the offence allegedly committed is bail-able.
He pointed out that the EFCC had no reason to deny his client bail, having granted administrative bail to them in the first instance.
In respect of the Fani-Kayode, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe(SAN) argued that his client has been kept in custody for 50 days and that it is necessary to differentiate between prosecution and persecution , stressing that while it is good to fight corruption, the constitution remains supreme so as not to suggest that Nigeria is operating marshal laws.
The third lawyer adopted the submission of the two senior advocates, requesting the court to grant his client bail.
In his reply, the Prosecution, Mr. N.M Anana argued that the three should not be granted bail but that if the Judge decided to, it should be with strict condition such that they are able to attend trial since the amount involved was N1.5 billion.
He said the EFCC was not interested in persecuting anybody.
His lordship, Justice MS Hassan adjourned the case to Monday 4th July to rule on the bail application and ordered the defendants to be remanded in prison custody till Monday.