Femi Fani Kayode’ s N 230Million Money Laundering Case Delayed Again

The money laundering case against former
aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani Kayode has
been put on hold again due to the absence of
lead counsel from EFCC .
The absence of prosecution counsel on
Thursday stalled the trial of FFK over alleged
N230 million money laundering charge.
FFK is currently on trial on a 47-count charge
before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The trial could not continue as scheduled
because the lead counsel to the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr
Festus Keyamo, assigned a team of lawyers
from his chambers to represent him.
The team of lawyers was led by Mr Vitalis
Ahaotu.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe
(SAN), therefore, challenged the legality of
Keyamo’s chambers to appear in court.
Adedipe said that Keyamo had no legal
authority to delegate his law firm to practice on
his behalf.
He cited Section 24 of the Legal Practioners
Act, a 2007 Supreme Court decision in the case
of Okafor vs Nweke to back his argument.
“I object to the appearance of the chambers of
Festus Keyamo by his team of lawyers to
prosecute this case.
“Keyamo is not authorised under the Legal
Practitioner’s Act to assign his chambers to
practise,” Adedipe said.
However, the Prosecution Counsel, Ahaotu,
urged the court to disregard the submission of
the counsel to the accused, arguing that the
counsel should have filed such submission so
that they could give their reply.
Justice Rita Ofilli-Ajumogobia, consequently,
adjourned the case till Nov. 27 for further
mention and told the accused counsel to file
his application within two days.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that
the EFCC had on Feb. 11, re-arraigned Fani-
Kayode over alleged money laundering and
financial impropriety to the tune of N230
million.
The former minister’s re-arraignment was
consequent upon the re-assignment of the
case to another judge, following the transfer of
the former judge handling the matter.
Fani-Kayode was previously, arraigned on Dec.
23, 2008, he pleaded not guilty and was
granted bail in the sum of N200 million, with
two sureties in like sum.
The EFCC stated that Fani-Kayode committed
the offences when he was the Minister of
Aviation and that of Culture and Tourism.
The commission said that the offences
contravened the provisions of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004