A former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to hands off his trial on allegations of money laundering.

His Counsel, Norrison Quakers, SAN, asked Justice Rilwan Aikawa to instead order that the case should be transferred to the Abuja division of the court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had re-arraigned Mr Fani-Kayode, Senator Nenadi Usman, and two others on 17 counts of fraud and money laundering to the tune of N4.9bn. They pleaded not guilty.

Mr Fani Kayode insists that the facts of the case show that all the transactions which the former minister carried out as Director of Media and Publicity of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, for which he was charged, took place in Abuja.

He also told that court that he stays in Abuja and has another trial currently going on in Abuja which should be the proper venue for the case.

The EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, however, urged the court to refuse the application.

Justice Aikawa has adjourned until September 26 and 27 for a ruling on the issue.