Arraignment of FFK stalled over jurisdiction

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Scheduled arraignment of former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode  at the Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja on 12 count charge of forgery was today stalled following legal firework between defence and prosecution over jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

FFK who was  charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Abike-Fadipe could however not take his plea after mounting the dock following arguments put forward by the defence that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Lawyer to the defendant, Wale Balogun had argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter since the alleged offence was committed in Abuja.

He further averred that  the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was not empowered by law to wade into this matter.

He submitted that EFCC was created to tackle only economic and financial crimes and that it would have been a different matter if the Nigeria Police Force, NPF was the prosecutor.

Reacting to the development, the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo argued that the court has jurisdiction since the offence was committed in Lagos following the presentation of the alleged document at the Federal High Court Lagos and prayed the court for the defendant to take his plea.

Justice Abike-Fadipe has adjourned till Friday, December 17 to rule on jurisdiction