Nigeria’s former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has been discharged and acquitted of corruption charges
by a federal high court sitting in Lagos.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, the judge said the prosecutor’s case was
“feeble” and failed to provide “copious evidence” linking
the former minister to money laundering.
The trial which began in 2008 before Justice Ramat
Mohammed, was instituted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly
laundering totaling about N100 million while he was
minister of culture and tourism and subsequently,
aviation minister.
However, the sum was reduced to N2.1million on
November 17, 2014 after the court dismissed 38 of the
40-count charge for lack of proof. The EFCC prosecutor,
Festus Keyamo, while urging the court to uphold the
remaining two counts and to accordingly convict Mr.
Fani-Kayode, said the former minister failed to exonerate
himself of the allegations.
Popular lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who is the EFCC’s
lawyer, while urging the court to prosecute Fani-Kayode
for the remaining two counts, claimed the former
minister transacted in cash sums above N500,000, whle
serving in government.
He argued, “once you cannot explain the source of the large
sum of money found on you, you are guilty of money
laundering. If the prosecution must show where the money is
coming from, then the whole essence of the money
laundering law is defeated.
“It is not in all cases that the burden of proof lies on the
prosecution; the burden at this point shifts to the accused
person.”
Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), in his
summary argument, said his client made no confession
to the EFCC, adding that the anti-graft agency failed to
show that the former minister actually accepted a cash
sum of N1million as alleged.
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