Fani-Kayode Discharged, Acquitted Of Money Laundering

The Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode this morning as a federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria discharged and acquitted him of thirty-eight count charge of money laundering out of forty count charge filed against him, while the court ordered him to enter his defence in the remaining two counts.

In her ruling, the presiding judge, Rita Ofili Ajumogobia said in considering the issue of no case submission as filed by the defense counsel, certain laid down principles needed to be considered, such as the following. Has the prosecution led any evidence to link the accused person to the commission of the offense? Is the evidence adduced by the prosecution so credible to sway the court to compel the accused person to enter his defense and is the evidence so adduced make meaning and sense to any discerning minds?

Justice Ajumogobia, while appraising the submission of the prosecution and the defense said the prosecution has failed woefully to prove beyond reasonable doubt the offense in thirty-eight. Counts accordingly discharged and acquitted the former minister on this charges while the former minister was ordered to enter his defence in counts twenty-five and twenty-six.

The court said the prosecution has led evidence to show the ingredient of the offense which will necessitate the minister to enter his defense.