Fani-Kayode Fulfills Bail Conditions

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has met all the conditions for his bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos.

A statement signed by his media, adviser, Jude Ndukwe, yesterday, said all relevant documents had been duly filed and submitted at the court. “We are now waiting for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to verify the documents after which he would be released. Despite the fact that he has been locked up for the last 62 days, he remains confident, strong, healthy and in very high spirits.

“He misses his family very badly, especially his five month old son Aragon, and he looks forward to coming home to be with his family, friends and loved ones,” Ndukwe said.

Fani-Kayode, who was also a Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Committee of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arraigned alongside former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman, one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Limited for money laundering by the EFCC on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of about N4.9 billion.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were all granted granted bail in the sum of N250 million each.

Delivering his ruling on their bail applications, the trial judge, Justice Sule Hassan, held that there was no evidence that the accused would interfere with trial if granted bail.
Moreso, the judge noted that denying the accused bail, especially when the court preparing to go on an eight-week vacation, would not serve the interest of justice.
He accordingly, admitted the first, second, and third accused on bail in the sum of N250 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge added that each of the sureties must exhibit evidence of landed properties in Lagos, and must submit their international passports to the court’s registry.
He further ordered that all documents must be verified by the EFCC within seven days.
He fixed October 19, 20, and 21 for trial.

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

In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
In counts eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.
Meanwhile in counts 15 to17 Fani-Kayode, together with one Olubode Oke who is said to now 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.
Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All the 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.