Alleged N4.6bn Fraud: Absence Of Defendant Stalls Fani-Kayode, Usman’s Trial
The on -going trial of former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode and former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman over an alleged N4.9 billion fraud before the Federal High Court in Lagos was Wednesday stalled due to the absence of the third defendant, Yusuf Danjuma.
Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria was said to be hospitalised in Kaduna.
The EFCC had re-arraigned trio and a company, Joint Trust Dimensions Limited before Justice Aikawa on a 17 count charge of conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and money laundering.
According to the EFCC the accused persons on or before January 2015, unlawfully retained the total sum of N4.6 billion, which they knew was a proceeds from an unlawful act.
While Usman, former Minister of Finance, under president Goodluck Jonathan Administration, Danjuma Yusuf and Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited retained the sum of N1.5 billion, Fani-kayode and Olubode Oke, said to be at large, were accused of retaining the total sum of N1,650, 650 billion.
The accused persons were also alleged to have made payment of several amounts running to billions of Naira without going through financial institutions.
The offence which was allegedly committed between January 2015 and March 2015 is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Danjuma’s counsel, K. C Nwofo told the court that he received a call in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday ) from the wife of the third accused , who informed him that the accused slumped in the bathroom while having a shower.
Nwofo claimed the wife had called out neighbours who joined in taking the accused to the hospital.
According to lawyer, the incident occurred in Jere in Kaduna and since he is yet to get a copy of the hospital diagnosis, he could not comment on the exact health condition of the accused.
He promised to get details of the diagnosis from the hospital and make same available to the court.
Other defence lawyers, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN ) and Norrisson Quakers (SAN ) acceded to the request for adjournment by the third defence counsel.
Mr. Omewa, announced appearance for the EFCC, while Messrs and K. C Nwofo , appeared for the first , second and third accused respectively .
In his reaction, the EFCC counsel, Nnemeka Omewa said the case was slated for a continuation of cross – examination, adding that since the request for adjournment was on health grounds, especially as put forward by the defence lawyer, he would not push further.
Omewa also agreed with the request for adjournment.
In a short ruling, Justice Rilwan Aikawa noted that generally, all the defendants had always been present in court for trial, adding that he will treat the excuse as exceptional.
Following the agreement of all counsel in the case, the court adjourned the case until June 11 and June 12 for the continuation of the trial, while he vacated the prior dates of May 3 and May 4.
