Alleged N4.9 billion Fraud: Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman's trial adjourned

Justice Ridwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday adjourned further hearing in a N4.9 billion fraud case involving a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and others to March 29, 2018.

Mr. Fani-Kayode is standing trial alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited, on a 17-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N4.9 billion.

At Friday’s sitting, counsel to Mr. Fani-Kayode, Norrison Quakers, cross-examined a prosecution witness, Shedlis Gana, Branch Manager, Zenith Bank Plc, Abuja.

During the cross-examination, Mr. Quakers sought to establish a contradiction in the testimony the witness gave in the statement she made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

He also sought the leave of the court to tender the statement extracted from the witness as evidence.

However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, raised an objection to the admissibility of the statement by the court.

Mr. Oyedepo argued that the defence counsel must establish the contradiction between the testimony given in chief and the details in the statement.

Also, Fedinard Orbih, counsel to the first defendant, continued with his cross-examination of Mr. Gana, who confirmed to the court that exhibits 6, 7, 8 and 9 were all certified by the bank.

She stated that the bank sourced for campaign accounts, as political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, organised fund raisers in the build-up to the 2015 general election.