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The trial of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, before the Federal High Court, Lagos was again stalled on Thursday following the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce its witness in court.
Fani-Kayode is facing a 47-count charge of alleged laundering of N230 million. At the last sitting of the court on July 8, 2013, counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo, sought the transfer of the case to another judge from Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia over alleged bias.
This made Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia to adjourn the matter sine die (indefinitely) pending the decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, on the request.
However, after considering the petition, Justice Auta cleared the judge and directed that she should continue with the trial.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, counsel to the EFCC, Vitalised Ahaotu, informed the court that the commission’s witness was not in court because the EFCC “got to hear about the sitting very late.”
Ahaotu stated: “Our witness is not present in court today because we thought the matter is for mention as the case file has just been returned to the court.
“Our witness, who is an operative of the EFCC, is in Abuja testifying in another case, so we will be asking for a date in December to allow us produce him in court”
The application for adjournment was not opposed by Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Kayode Daudu.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case till November 21 for continuation of trial but warned that she would no longer tolerate any unnecessary request for adjournment.
According to the charges, the accused allegedly made several financial transactions by depositing cash believed to be proceeds of illicit acts in his account at the Apapa branch of Finbank (now First City Monument Bank).
- Leadership
Fani-Kayode is facing a 47-count charge of alleged laundering of N230 million. At the last sitting of the court on July 8, 2013, counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo, sought the transfer of the case to another judge from Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia over alleged bias.
This made Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia to adjourn the matter sine die (indefinitely) pending the decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, on the request.
However, after considering the petition, Justice Auta cleared the judge and directed that she should continue with the trial.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, counsel to the EFCC, Vitalised Ahaotu, informed the court that the commission’s witness was not in court because the EFCC “got to hear about the sitting very late.”
Ahaotu stated: “Our witness is not present in court today because we thought the matter is for mention as the case file has just been returned to the court.
“Our witness, who is an operative of the EFCC, is in Abuja testifying in another case, so we will be asking for a date in December to allow us produce him in court”
The application for adjournment was not opposed by Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Kayode Daudu.
Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case till November 21 for continuation of trial but warned that she would no longer tolerate any unnecessary request for adjournment.
According to the charges, the accused allegedly made several financial transactions by depositing cash believed to be proceeds of illicit acts in his account at the Apapa branch of Finbank (now First City Monument Bank).
- Leadership
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