Alleged Fraud: Fani-Kayode Blocks Re-Arraignment

An All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, has opposed his re-arraignment for laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in 2008.

The case was again brought before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday by the prosecuting counsel, Festus Keyamo.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia is the third judge hearing the matter.

The court had earlier ruled that no one else except Keyamo was competent to prosecute the case.

However, at the hearing on Monday, the former Minister of Aviation, through his lawyer, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), challenged the validity of the charges which he said contravened Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Act. He described the charges brought against his client as invalid, persecutory and oppressive.

According to Adedipe, “the accused person is alleged to have received money from a nameless, anonymous person. The accused was said to have accepted cash payments of over N10m without stating the donor of the said money.

“We have to know the person so we can know who to address. As it is, the charge is vague.”

Responding, Keyamo maintained that since the charges touched on money laundering, the sums of money involved were from unknown sources, which he said was what distinguished money laundering from stealing.”

“The very essence of the crime of money laundering is when the money has no origin, when you are caught with large sums of money and you cannot explain the source,” said Keyamo.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia later adjourned matter till February 3, 2014 for hearing.