Emmanuel Ukudolo
Lagos, Nigeria, July 4, 2016 – Freedom finally came the way of former Minister of Aviation and Director of Publicity, Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode and his cohorts, Nenade Esther Usman and Danjuma Yusuf.
They were facing a 17 count charge of conspiracy and money laundering contrary to sec 15, 16 and 18 of the Money Laundry and Prohibition Amendment Act and for alleged diversion of the total sum of N4.9 billion from money meant for purchase of arms and money laundering.
To start with, Justice M I Hassan alluded to arguments posited by the three defendants through their counsels, led by Chief Ferdinand Obi, Ifedayo Adedipe and KC Nwafor Esq and others and the argument of the prosecution and thereafter ruled granting bail to the three after stating that punishment for the crime was N10 million fine or 7 years imprisonment upon conviction.
He said he agreed with the defense team who argued that offence committed was bail able and not a criminal offence and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) had granted administrative bail to the defendants and would therefore neither jump bail nor interfere with the trial and that it would be inhuman to keep the defendants in jail since the judiciary will be embarking on a very long vacation.
He therefore granted bail to the first, second and third defendants in the sum of N250 million each and two sureties in like sum.
They are also to produce two sureties in like sum and the sureties are required to have landed properties in Lagos and deposit title for same with the court within 7 days.
Justice Hassan said the properties are to be verified by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They are also required to deposit copies of their international passports with the court.