Money Laundering: Fani-kayode Knows Fate June 18

A Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday
fixed June 18 for judgment in the alleged
money laundering case filed against a
former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode,
by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).
Justice Rita Ofile-Ajumogobia adjourned for
judgment after parties in the suit adopted
their final written addresses.
She also granted Fani-Kayode’s prayer to
substitute one of his sureties, Wale
Ajisebutu with one Ogbor Elliot, following
Ajisebutu’s request to withdraw his
suretiship for the accused.
At the resumed hearing on Monday,
counsel to Fani-Kayode led by Ifedayo
Adedipe (SAN) urged the court to dismiss
the two- count charge against the accused
as well as discharge and acquit him.
Adedipe told the court that the defense
relied and adopted its final written address
filed April 7, and its reply on point of law to
the prosecution’s written address, dated
April 27.
He argued that the prosecution’s
submission in the case were misplaced and
misguided, accusing the EFCC of trying to
show to the world that they have a “big
fish” but “there’s no fish here.”
According to Fani-Kayode’s lawyers, the
prosecution has failed woefully to prove
that the accused received the alleged N1
million, adding that no witness was brought
by the EFCC to substantiate its claim.
He said: “It is now an accepted principle of
law that the prosecution in all criminal cases
must prove its case.
“Nobody gave evidence that he gave or
saw the accused collecting money (N1
millon). The only evidence was that of
prosecution witness Supo Agbaje, whom
the prosecution had declared wanted.
“In his statement, the witness said he
deposited N1 million in the accussed’s
account but never said he saw the accused
collecting money.
“What happened after the receipt of money
is not the case but receiving the money.
The accused never confessed to receiving
money from anybody and there is no such
evidence before the court.”