Court adjourns trial of FFK in N4.9 billion fraud

 

Admin l Monday, February 20, 2023

 

IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – A Domestic and Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos today adjourned  the trial of former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, who is alleged to have fabricated evidence in his trial for N4.9 billion fraud.

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe  adjourned the case when the matter came up for hearing today, till May 24 and 25^th, 2023.

Fani-Kayode is facing 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following his alleged use of forged medical report(s), which he tendered before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he is being prosecuted by the EFCC for an alleged N4.9billion fraud.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 11th day of October, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by fraudulently used a false document titled: MEDICAL REPORT ON OLUFEMI FANI-KAYODE 60 YEARS/MALE/HOSP. NO. 00345 DATED 11/10/2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”

Another count reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 23rd day of March, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently used a false document titled: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN RE: FEMI FANI-KAYODE MALE/60 YEARS HOSPITAL. NO. 32145 DATED 23rd MARCH 2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on December 17, 2021. At today’s proceeding, the defence counsel, Wale Balogun, informed the court of the absence of the defendant.

“We regret to announce to your lordship that the defendant is not in court due to health reasons, and secondly due to a running battles he has with both the DSS and the Police,” he said, adding that he had also shared some documents with respect to this, with the prosecution.

The prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, confirmed that the defence gave some documents to the prosecution.

“The defence counsel this morning, shared with us two documents, one is a medical report and another from the Nigeria Police,” she said. She further noted that the day’s business was for the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness.

“In the circumstance, however, we leave the decision to the discretion of the court,” she added.

Balogun informed the court that “since the last time we were here, the defendant has been reporting everyday at the DSS, and while he was doing this, the Nigeria Police invited him” for questioning with regards to some comments Fani-Kayode made online.

Balogun added that: “Since we left here at the last date, he has not been able to have peace of mind, and that has affected his health.

“On the 16th he was at the hospital and on Saturday he was also readmitted back at the National Hospital. Even now as we speak, he is also there, and based on this it has become imperative to seek your lordship’s indulgence not only to vacate today, but the other days, 21 and 22.

“We humbly apply that those days be vacated to enable him resolve those issues. Thereafter, the case was adjourned till May 24 ad 25, 2023 “for continuation of trial”.