N26m Dasuki Fraud: Fani-Kayode Opts For Plea Bargain ‎

Former minister of aviation and a leader in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Femi Fani-Kayode has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja for time to enter into plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

 

 

Fani-Kayode is standing trial ‎on a five-count charge of corruption and money laundering to the tune of N26 million.

 

When his case came up Monday, his counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji, told the court that his client would like to explore other avenue on how the matter will be settled out of court.

 

Raji, who told the court that he was just stepping into the matter, asked the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file.

 

He said, “My Lord, I am just coming into the case, I will need time to go through the file; so I would like to crave the indulgence of the court to enable me familiarize myself with the case.

 

“Looking at the facts of the case and the money involved, I believe that there are other options we can explore.

 

“The case involves the sum of N26 million and the law allows you to explore the option of a plea bargain and so many other options rather than go through trial,” Raji said.

 

He added that if the EFCC was amenable to plea bargain, the defence would take the option.

 

On his part, the prosecuting counsel, Mr.Johnson Ojogbane said he was not opposing the application.

 

Ojogbane, however, asked the court to take cognizance of the fact that this was the second adjournment at the instance of the defence and asked for a definite date to commence trial.

 

He further urged the court to give a definite date for the commencement of trial.

 

The trial judge subsequently adjourned to March 14, 2017, for the commencement of trial.

 

Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Tsoho on a fresh five counts bordering on money laundering.

 

The ex-aviation minister was accused of allegedly collecting N26 million from the Office of the Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and using same for media campaign.

 

Count two of the charge reads: ” You Femi Fani-Kayode, converted N26 million cash paid from the office of the National Security Adviser for the purpose of media campaign when you ought to have reasonably known that the said funds formed part of an unlawful act contrary to section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering Act.”

 

Fani-Kayode is facing another 17 counts of money laundering before the Lagos division of the court.