FANI KAYODE TO SPEND XMAS IN JAIL

MARCHING TO JAIL THE FANI KAYODE’S STYLE!

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was arraigned on a 47-count charge of money laundering this morning, is to spend the Christmas in Ikoyi Prisons, as a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has ordered that he be remanded there.

In the 47-count criminal charge, the one-time Tourism and Culture Minister, was accused of laundering about N172 million through his wife, Reginald, some of his personal staff and his close associates, who are now at large.

The money laundering offence was allegedly committed through First Inland Bank, now FinBank.

In the charges filed before the court by the EFCC legal officer, Mallam Hassan, some of his ofences are: “That you,Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about 22 November, 2006, while serving as the Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, made a financial transaction exceeding N500,000 which was not done through a financial institution, by accepting various cash payments of about N50 million which sum was further carried in cash to First Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, now FinBank, through one Mark Saviour Ndifreke, your close associate, now at large and put it in an investment account in your favour for 90 days, contrary to section CJ (1) (d) and punishable under Section 15(2) (d) of the money laundering prohibition Act 2004.

It was also alleged that Fani-Kayode, on or about 7 July, 2006, while serving as Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic Nigeria, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court, made a financial transaction exceeding N300,000 which was not done through a financial institution by accepting cash payment of about N20 million, which sum was paid into his personal account number 10345025601 with First Inland Bank, Apapa branch, now FinBank.

advertisement

Also, through one of his associates, Mark Saviour Ndifreke, the former minister was also accused of laundering money through Florence Salawu, his ex-administrative staff, now at large. Another administrative staff, Daniel Atogo, who is also at large, was also allegedly used by Fani-Kayode.

Another aide,  Ojo Agbor, now at large, was also mentioned.

Also mentioned is Supo Agbaje, another administrative staff, also at large.

In three of the 47-count charge, Mr. Hassan alleged that Fani-Kayode, on 3 May, 2007, while travelling as Minister of Aviation, accepted cash payment of about N6 million, which was further paid into his personal account with First Inland Bank Plc, Apapa.

The former minister was also alleged to have accepted cash payments of N400 million, which was further paid into his account at First Inland Bank, Apapa branch, an account belonging to his daughter, Remilekun Fani-Kayode.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni, SAN, told the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of Fani-Kayode. But the EFCC prosecutor told the court that he needed time to reply it because EFCC was willing to oppose the bail application.

Mr. Akoni then urged the court to remand the ex-minister in EFCC custody. But Keyamo objected on the ground that an accused cannot choose where he can be kept.

The presiding judge, Hon. Justice Ramat Ahmed Mohammed, ordered that Fani-Kayode be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons, while the matter was adjourned till 29 December, for the consideration of his bail application.

Earlier in the year, Fani-Kayode, a former Special Assistant to former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Communications, appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation.

Also, his predecessor as Minister of Aviation, Prof. Babalola Borishade, appeared with him before the Senate to defend their roles in the N19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund.

However, Fani-Kayode was arrested on 30 June, by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Prof. Borishade and a former managing director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Rowland Iyayi.