The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will commence fresh the prosecution of Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, and three others at the Federal High Court, Abuja on alleged misappropriation of N4.6bn and money laundering.
Counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, on Tuesday, told Justice Daniel Osiagor, of the Federal High Court in Lagos, that this move became necessary following last weeks judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which quashed the charges.
According to Oyedepo, in view of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, all exhibits and documents tendered by the prosecution should be released to enable the Commission commence the matter afresh at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice Osiagor subsequently ordered the release of all exhibits and documents tendered before the court during the hearing of the matter back to the EFCC.
In the suit, Fani-Kayode is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Finance Nenandi Usman; a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Yusuf Danjuma, and a company Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Ltd.
They were alleged to have at various times between Jan. & March 2015, unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts of stealing and corruption.
In Counts 15 to 17, Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke, who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125, Lewis St., Igbosere, Lagos. The said payments were alleged to have been made in excess of amounts allowed by law without going through a financial institution.
All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
The defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.
