The Economic and Financial Crimes C o m m i s s i o n (EFCC) yesterday filed an amended charge of money laundering against former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode before Justice Rita Ofilli Ajumogobia at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The latest charge against the former Minister alleged that he had laundered about N99 million. At yesterday’s proceedings, counsel to the EFCC, Festus Keyamo told the judge that he had filed an amended charge against Fani-Kayode and prayed the court to allow him take his plea. However, Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) objected to the new charge, stressing that his client could not take the new charge on the grounds that it was legally defective. Ifedipe said that, “The accused was alleged to have accepted cash payments of over N10 million without stating the donor of the said money.” “All through the charge, the accused person was alleged to have accepted various sums of money, without mentioning the names of the person from whom the monies were received.” “This charge is clearly invalid, persecutory and oppressive.” In his opposition, Keyamo claimed that the charge consisted of the offences of money laundering in which monies involved might have no immediate provable sources, as opposed to conversion or stealing, where there is a need to prove a particular source. In his ruling, Justice Ajumogobia declared that both parties were at liberty to either file written addresses, or address the court orally on the issue. The court consequently adjourned the matter till February 3, 2014 for ruling.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 08:11:51 +0000
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