Fani- Kayode re- arraigned over money laundering charges

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Thursday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 47-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Fani-Kayode was re-arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Lagos, following the recent transfer of Justice Ramat Mohammed who previously handled the matter.

The former minister was accused of laundering more than N500 million and accepting and concealing cash payments of about N230 million.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, counsel to the accused, Ladi Williams (SAN), told the court that his client had challenged the Court of Appeal’s decision allowing the use of computer printouts at the Supreme Court.

He urged the court to adjourn the matter till after May 21 when the Supreme Court would have heard their motion seeking a stay of proceedings at the Federal High Court.

Mr. Williams, however, opposed the re-arraignment of the accused person on the grounds that the Appeal Court did not order a fresh trial.

Prosecution counsel Festus Afeiyodian opposed the application to adjourn the case on the grounds that the re-assignment of the case had rendered the interlocutory appeal at the Supreme Court an academic exercise.

He argued that there was no proof that the said appeal had been entered at the Supreme Court.

Justice Nyako adjourned the case to April 24 and ordered that the accused person should continue on the bail earlier granted by Justice Mohammed.

She also ordered the accused person not to travel out of the country pending the final determination of the suit.