The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a company, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited before Justice Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court Lagos.
They were arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorised by law.
They all pleaded not guilty.
In the first of the 17-count charge, Mr Usman, Mr Fani-Kayode, one Mr Yusuf and Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd on or about January 8, 2015 allegedly conspired to indirectly retain the sum of 1.5 billion Naira, a sum which the EFCC said they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
They, therefore, committed an offence contrary to Section 18(A) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012. The Offence is punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.
While the former Finance Minister and the company, Jointrust Dimensions Ltd are only named in the first four counts, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, who is also former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, is named in all 17 counts.
In the last 3 counts, he allegedly conspired with one Olubode Oke who is said to still be on the run. Both men were said to have made cash payments to one Paste Poster Company without going through a financial institution and exceeding the amount authorised by Law.
The defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges and the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, immediately asked the court to commence trial and order an accelerated hearing of the case.
The defence counsels took turns to make a case for the court to hear the bail application of their clients.
The prosecution, however, urged the court to give him time to file a joint response to all the bail applications as he had only just been served some of the documents.
The EFCC counsel also told the court that the Commission’s remand facility was overstretched and considering that Mr Fani Kayode had recently alleged that one of the EFCC officials assaulted him, the proper place to remand the defendants pending the determination of their bail applications was the prison.
After listening to all the submissions, Justice Sule Hassan adjourned hearing of the bail applications till Friday, July 1.
He also ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prison custody until then.
