The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to retrieve all the documents tendered as exhibits in the N4. 6bn money laundering trial of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani- Kayode. This comes after the EFCC obtained an order from Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, permitting them to re- file the charges before the Abuja division of the court.
The move to take the case from Lagos to Abuja was necessitated by the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which held that the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, rather than Lagos, has the jurisdiction to hear the case. Fani- Kayode was charged alongside former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Yusuf Danjuma, and a , Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd.
The defendants were accused of laundering N4.6bn in the build-up to the 2015 general elections in the 17 counts filed against them. During the trial before Justice Rilwan Aikawa in Lagos, the defendants challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the facts of the case happened in Abuja, not Lagos. Justice Aikawa dismissed their objection, after which they went on appeal.
The appellate court later upheld the defendants’ appeal, holding that the Lagos court lacks jurisdiction over the case. At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, EFCC Prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that, given the judgment of the Court of Appeal, all exhibits and documents tendered by the prosecution should be released to enable the commission to commence the matter afresh at the Federal High Court Abuja. Justice Osiagor granted the application.
The EFCC alleged that Fani- Kayode and others unlawfully retained over N4. 6bn at various times, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts of stealing and corruption. It is important to note that justice will always prevail, and the EFCC is doing all within its power to ensure that justice is served.
Source: Nigerian Tribune
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