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Tag: fani-kayode

  • Alleged forgery: Court threatens bench warrant against Fani-Kayode

    Alleged forgery: Court threatens bench warrant against Fani-Kayode

    An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Wednesday threatened to issue a bench warrant for arrest of a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, for failure to appear for his trial.

    Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe frowned at constant non-appearance of the defendant for the trial.

    Fani-Kayode is standing trial on a 12-count charge bordering on use of false documents, use of fabricated evidence, procuring execution of documents by false pretences, and fabrication of evidence.

    He, however,  pleaded not guilty to the charge, on arraignment on Dec. 17, 2021.

    The judge noted that Fani-Kayode appeared last for the trial on Nov. 4, 2022.

    Abike-Fadipe cited excuses that had been given by the defendant for non-appearance.

    She consequently threatened to issue a bench warrant against him if he would fail to show up at the next adjourned date.

    The judge also showed displeasure at lack of diligent prosecution of the case.

    She said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuting the case could withdraw it if it would not prosecute it diligently.

    She adjourned the case until Nov. 7 for continuation of trial.

    The defendant was alleged to have forged medical reports which he tendered before Justice Daniel Osiagor of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he is being prosecuted by  EFCC for an alleged N4.9 billion fraud.

    His counsel, Mr Wale Balogun, had on Feb. 20, informed the court of the absence of the defendant due to health reasons and issues he had with the Department of State Services (DSS) and police.

    “We regret to announce to your lordship that the defendant is not in court due to health reasons, and due to a running battle he has with both the DSS and the police,” he said.

    Balogun had prayed the court to adjourn the case, promising to make the defendant available at Wednesday’s proceedings.

    However, when the case was called on Wednesday, Mr. Chinozo Eze, who represented Balogun,  told the court that Fani-Kayode was not in court due to health issues.

    “The absence of the defendant in court is due to health issues,” Eze said.

    Eze further informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the adjourned date had been submitted to the court.

    EFCC counsel, Mrs. Zinat Atiku, confirmed the receipt of the said letter.

  • Judge didn’t order retrial of Fani-Kayode in Abuja court, lawyer clarifies

    Judge didn’t order retrial of Fani-Kayode in Abuja court, lawyer clarifies

    Mrs. Patience Omoike-Mark, counsel to former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday, stated that a Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Lagos did not order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to file fresh charges against him and others.

    Omoike-Mark said that Justice Daniel Osiagor, instead, declared that the suit no longer had life before the court following a Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal’s judgment quashing the case.

    The lawyer, who gave the clarification in a statement she signed on Thursday in Abuja, also made available to newsmen a Cerrtified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling delivered by the judge to that effect.

    Media reports had claimed that a FHC in Lagos had ordered that exhibits and documents in a suit marked: FHC/L/251C/16, filed by the EFCC against former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, Fani-Kayode and others be released back to the commission to enable it file fresh charges against the defendants in the Abuja division of the court.

    But reacting, Omoike-Mark refuted the media reports, saying that the court only directed that documents and exhibits filed in the course of the trial be returned to parties in the case.

    “We refer to case number FHC/L/251C/16, FRN vs NENADI ESTHER USMAN & 3 ORS.

    “The matter, wherein we represent the 2nd defendant (Fani-Kayode), came up on the 25th of April, 2023.

    “The court was informed of the judgment of the Court of Appeal quashing the charge in the Federal High Court, Lagos over lack of jurisdiction.

    “And after counsel applied for their documents in the matter, the court, in abiding by the decision of the Court of Appeal, ordered that documents belonging to parties in the suit be released to them.

    “What this implied is that all parties, including Chief Fani-Kayode, should have access to their documents.

    “The court struck out the suit from its own docket since it no longer has jurisdiction to hear it,” she said.

    The lawyer said that the clarification became necessary to let the Nigerian public know the truth.

    “As at today, there is no case in respect of these charges in the court against our client and after seven years of prosecution.

    We are not only grateful to the courts for administering justice in a fair and just manner, but we are also overjoyed at the fact that what can only be described as yet another seven-year ordeal has been brought to an end.

    “Despite their loss at the Court of Appeal last week and the decision of the Court of Appeal Judges to quash all the charges, if the EFCC deems it fit to go to an Abuja court after seven years of  unsuccessfully prosecuting the same matter in Lagos, that is their prerogative.

    “Whatever they choose to do, as at now, the matter is completely dead. They have lost the case; the charges have been quashed and the matter has been thrown out,” she said.

    She said that the team had applied for the CTC of the Appeal Court judgement and that this would be made available to the public as soon as it is received.

    Meanwhile, a CTC of Justice Osiagor’s ruling marked: FHC/L/251C/16 delivered on Tuesday but made available to newsmen by the lawyer on Thursday reads in part:

    “The court, having noted that the Court of Appeal has announced the death of this case in this jurisdiction.

    “It is hereby ordered that all exhibits or documents of the parties be returned to them.”

    The Court of Appeal in Lagos had, on April 20, quashed charges of misappropriation of N4.6 billion and money laundering brought against Mrs Usman, alongside Fani-Kayode, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Yusuf Danjuma, and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd.

    The decision followed an appeal filed by Mrs Usman against the lower court on jurisdictional grounds.

    NAN

  • Court orders release of documents in money laundering trial of former ministers

    Court orders release of documents in money laundering trial of former ministers

    A Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the release of processes and documents in the money laundering trial of a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman and others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, made an application before Justice Daniel Osiagor, to release all documentary evidences or processes in the suit, following the decision of an appellate court.

    Usman, is charged alongside a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.

    EFCC had preferred a 17-count charge bordering on N4.6 billion money laundering against them before a former judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa.

    The defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.

    Trial had began before Justice Aikawa and witnesses were still being led in evidence, until Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division.

    The charge was consequently, re-assigned to a new judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor, and they were consequently, re-arraigned on Jan. 24. 2022.

    Again, trial had since commenced in the case and witnesses were still giving evidences before the court.

    However, following an appeal filed by Usman, seeking a transfer of the case on jurisdictional grounds, the court of appeal had found in favour of the defendant.

    When the case was called on Tuesday, Oyedepo announced appearance for the prosecution, and informed the court of the appellate court’s decision, directing that the case be transfered to the Abuja division of the court.

    He, also informed the court that it is still the case of the prosecution adding that the prosecution is still leading evidence as PW 1 was still testifying.

    He, consequently, sought an application for the release of all documentary evidences and exhibits in the case to the prosecution, so as to save time and avoid delay

    In a short ruling , Justice Osiagor held that in line with the decision of the appellate court, all documentary evidences as well as exhibits tendered , be released to the prosecution.

    In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015 in Lagos.

    They were alleged to have at various times, unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful acts of stealing and corruption.

    Meanwhile in counts 15 to17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

    The said payments are alleged to have been made to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law..

    All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

  • 10th Senate: Fani-Kayode throws weight behind Kalu, says his loyalty not in doubt

    10th Senate: Fani-Kayode throws weight behind Kalu, says his loyalty not in doubt

    Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Femi Fani-Kayode, on Tuesday, throws his weight behind Senator Orji Kalu’s Senate Presidency ambition saying his loyalty is not in doubt.

    Fani-Kayode said Kalu would be loyal to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Tweeting, Fani-Kayode via his wrote: “Senator Orji Kalu and Senator Sani Musa are both very close to me and I am proud to call them my brothers. I believe that the Nigerian Senate would be safe hands in their hands as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

    “Their loyalty to our great party the APC and to our leader and President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is unambiguous, total and second to none, and they are both seasoned, brilliant, courageous, tough, wise and experienced public officers. What an extraordinary combination they would make as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively.

    “This would be innovative and refreshing. Under their leadership the opposition parties would have sleepless nights, the Senate would be strong, bold and reliable, the APC would flourish and go from strength to strength and the Nigerian people would be the better for it. I wish them well in this race and they have not only my support but that of millions of other party leaders and supporters.”

  • DSS, police given 48 hours to arrest Fani-Kayode

    DSS, police given 48 hours to arrest Fani-Kayode

    The Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Police Force have been urged to arrest a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Femi Fani-Kayode, within 48 hours, before he sets Nigeria ablaze.

    The Nigerian Democratic Youth Front, NDYF, warned the police and DSS to stop “dilly-dallying” and arrest Fani-Kayode before his “injudicious, uncultured and inflammatory speeches” spark widespread civil disturbance and national insecurity.

    The group berated Fani-Kayode for saying Muslims would be an endangered specie if Labour Party’s Peter Obi was declared winner of the presidential election.

    They noted that Fani-Kayode’s remark was uncalled-for.

    He made the call while cautioning the Federal Government on the dangers of indulging Fani-Kayode and his insensitive and inciting comments.

    Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, NDYF president, Gideon Obong and Secretary General, Usman Ahmed Yahaya said: “Fani-Kayode had in one of his recent senseless rants on Twitter attempted to defame Obi before our Muslim brothers and sisters by gloating that the purported leaked telephone conversation between him and Bishop Oyedepo makes him unfit to lead a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural state as a hater of non-Christians.

    “But a man driven by avarice and prejudice like Fani-Kayode would even feign ignorance to get his already dirty self dirtier for scrubs.

    “Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security to arrest Femi Fani-Kayode within 48 hours before he set the country in flames.”

  • Arrest Fani- kayode for making inciting comments – PDP tells DSS

    Arrest Fani- kayode for making inciting comments – PDP tells DSS

    The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) Atiku Abubakar has noted that the Department of State Security (DSS) should arrest the Director of New Media of the Bola Tinubu Campaign, Fani-Kayode (FFK) over his inciting remarks.

    Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to Atiku, in a statement on Sunday, hailed the British Envoy Ben Llewellyn-Jones for penciling down FFK and others for making inciting comments post 2023  elections  in the country.

    According to Shaibu,  the former Minister of Aviation, Fani-Kayode, has flawed the Secret Service’s call on politicians not to overheat the polity.

    He said that, Fani-Kayode would bring Nigeria into severe chaos if he is left uncontrolled.

    He called on Nigerians to regard Fani-Kayode as a joker.

    “We acknowledge as timely the statement of the DSS call on politicians not to overheat the polity. But call on the security agency to arrest Fani-Kayode for not heeding the counsel of the DSS when he threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable”, he stated.

    prior to the presidential election in the country, the DSS had invited Femi-Fani-Kayode on 13 February over a claim about Atiku planning a coup

     

  • Coup tweet: Fani-Kayode narrates ordeal after DSS grilling

    Coup tweet: Fani-Kayode narrates ordeal after DSS grilling

    Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, an APC chieftain, said he was grilled for five hours by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over his tweet on a purported meeting of a presidential candidate with some military officers.

    Fani-Kayode who is the Director of Special Projects and New Media All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC), said this while narrating his ordeal in the hands of the DSS on Monday in Abuja.

    Fani-Kayode, also a former Minister of Aviation under former President Goodluck Jonathan, told newsmen at the APC National Secretariat that he would return to the DSS on Wednesday.

    He added that he was also told to report once a week till the conclusion of investigation.

    According to him, he has nothing to hide and was impressed by the professional manner in which the DSS personnel conducted themselves.

    Fani-Kayode as saying that the five hours grilling was an experience he would not wish even his enemy to go through.

    He said that the DSS invited him to explain the Tweet he made concerning the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    “Following my tweet, the PDP called for my arrest and detention, saying Atiku never met with the military generals.

    “While I was with the DSS, they were very thorough and inquisitive and very professional in their approach, they were polite, reasonable and rational.

    “In spite of the ordeal, I felt I was being treated very fairly and that I wasn’t being oppressed,” he said.

    Fani-Kayode also said it was clear that the DSS was not acting under any order.

    He added that he regretted some of the things he said in the tweet, which according to him, sent shock waves to some individuals who got hurt by it and brought the appropriate authority to action.

    “I spent about five hours. I was subjected to thorough grilling; they were very thorough and highly professional in their interrogation, and I was asked to come back on Wednesday for further interrogation.

    “The place anybody wouldn’t want to go, I think is the DSS. If I were to do it a second time, I won’t tweet this same way,” Fani-Kayode said.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director Media and Publicity APC PCC while reacting to the development, said they were all worried when they heard that Fani-Kayode was invited by the DSS for interrogation.

    “So we contacted our lawyers and our lawyers followed him to the DSS headquarters.

    “If he was detained beyond today, we would have challenged it, we would have taken further steps, but he said the DSS officials were very professional,” Onanuga said

  • Remove, arrest and detain Emefiele now – Fani-Kayode

    Remove, arrest and detain Emefiele now – Fani-Kayode

    A spokesperson for the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode has called for the removal and arrest of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, Goodwin Emefiele.

    There are insinuations at the camp of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu that the move by the apex bank was targeted at frustrating the party during the forthcoming elections.

    The CBN governor had several times, debunked the allegations, stressing that the move has no political motives.

    But Fani-Kayode in a tweet on his official handle on Friday said Emefiele wants to scuttle the election by causing chaos via the currency crisis.

    The tweet reads, “Let me make this clear. Emefiele has NO intention of releasing new naira notes until March. He wants people to suffer, he wants chaos & he wants to scuttle the election.

    “He is a dangerous pawn in the hands of sinister anti-democratic forces. Remove, arrest & detain him NOW”!

  • 2023: There are plans to scuttle elections – Fani Kayode

    2023: There are plans to scuttle elections – Fani Kayode

    An All Progressive Congress chieftain and  former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has noted that there are plans by some cabal to mar the forthcoming general elections in the country.

    Fani-Kayode made this comment via his personal Twitter page on Wednesday night.

    According to him, the plans include hoarding of the new Naira notes, fuel scarcity and creating an atmosphere of fear and panic.

    His Tweet reads in part “Whatever your plans are to scuttle this election, whether through new naira notes, fuel scarcity or creating an atmosphere of fear & panic, YOU SHALL FAIL.

    “The cat is out of the bag. We know the plan. We know who you are using. We know who is behind it. We know what to do,” Fani-Kayode wrote.

    Recall that presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, holds same views when he told his supporters same thing during his campaign rally in Abeokuta, Ogun on Wednesday.

    Tinubu insisted that “even, if there is no fuel, Nigerians should not worry, nothing can stop the elections from holding. We are going to vote and we are going to win.”

  • Absence of prosecution, defence counsel stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Absence of prosecution, defence counsel stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial

    The money laundering trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and others, was on Wednesday, stalled before a Federal High Court in Lagos, following absence of Prosecution and Defence Counsel.

    The case which was initially fixed for continuation of the trial could not proceed as the prosecution and defence counsel were said to be appearing at the court of appeal

    Fani-Kayode is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.

    EFCC filed a 17-count charge bordering on N4.6 billion money laundering against them before a former judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa.

    The defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

    Trial had began before Justice Aikawa and witnesses were still being led in evidence, until Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division.

    The charge was consequently, re-assigned to a new judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor, and they were consequently, re-arraigned on Jan. 24. 2022.

    Trial has since commenced in the case and witnesses are still giving evidence before the court.

    Although the defendants were present in court on Wednesday, alongside some junior counsel from office of defence counsel, a continuation of trial will however, resume on Jan. 26.

    In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015 in Lagos.

    They were alleged to have at various times, unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

    Meanwhile in counts 15 to 17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

    The said payments are alleged to have been made to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law..

    All offence were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.