A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has ordered the newly defected All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, to pay a fine of N200,000, for consistently being absent at his re-arraignment, in his corruption trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
Justice Daniel Osaigor gave the order on Wednesday, saying that, having gone through the court’s file, he observed 5 different letters by the Defendant (Fani-Kayode), seeking adjournment on the same Medical grounds.
The EFCC had preferred 17 counts of money laundering to the tune of N4.6 billion, against Fani-Kayode and others, before Justice Mohammed Aikawa, who was initially the Trial Judge, until he was transferred out of the Lagos Jurisdiction.
However, when the case was called today, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari announced the appearance for the Prosecution.
She told the court that on July 15, the Prosecution had moved the court to adjourn the matter for a re-arraignment of the Defendants.
She said that on October 11, the Prosecution received a letter from the Second Defendant (Fani-Kayode), informing them that he had been given bed rest.
The Prosecutor told the court that these letters by the second Defendant had become numerous, and had also become an excuse for him to evade court.
She stated: “This is the third time he will be writing this type of letter from the same Hospital
“Whenever he does not want to attend court, this is the type of letter we get.”
Nonetheless, Fani-Kayode’s Counsel, Bobo Fred-Ajudua, cut in and informed the court that although Fani-Kayode’s illness was a recurring one, he had attended court regularly, and this can be shown from the court’s records.
He urged the court to kindly grant an adjournment in favour of the second Defendant.
At this point, the Trial Judge decided to go through the court’s file, and after searching, the court discovered that the second Defendant had actually sought similar Medical excuse 5 times.
The court then asked the Defence Counsel to take one of two options which were: to either revoke the bail of the second Defendant, or to impose a fine of N200,000, to be paid before the next trial date.
The Defence Counsel chose the latter option.
