Court Slams N200,000 Fine on Former Minister Femi Fani-Kayode
- Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has been accused of deliberately skipping court sessions in his ongoing corruption trial
- The former minister of aviation is still having his time in court with the EFCC doing everything it can to prosecute him
- The court has slammed a N200,000 fine on the Osun-born politician after he was accused of staying away from his trial sessions
Lagos - A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered a former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to pay a fine of N200,000 for being absent at his re-arraignment or stand the risk of having his bail revoked.
Channels Television reports that Justice Daniel Osaigor gave the order on Wednesday, October 13, saying that having gone through the court’s file, he observed five different letters by the defendant seeking adjournment on the same medical grounds.
Source: Facebook
When the case was called, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari announced the appearance for the prosecution.
The prosecutor told the court that on July 15, the prosecution had moved the court to adjourn the matter for a re-arraignment of the defendants.
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She said that on Monday, October 11, the prosecution received a letter from the second defendant informing them that he had been given bed rest.
The prosecutor told the court that the letters by the second defendant had become numerous and had also become an excuse for him to evade court.
She said:
“This is the third time he will be writing this type of letter from the same hospital. Whenever he doesn’t want to attend court, this is the type of letter we get.”
But, 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 a similar medical excuse five times.
The court then asked the defense 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.
Osun APC senator flares up over question on Fani-Kayode
Meanwhile, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru charged at a Legit.ng reporter after he was asked of his opinion on Fani-Kayode's recent defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Basiru, the spokesman of the Nigerian Senate who is also from the home state of Fani-Kayode was accosted at an event in Abuja to speak on the former minister's defection.
He said:
“I don't have any opinion. He said he is from FCT. You heard him yesterday. I don't have any opinion on Fani-Kayode. Go to Aso Rock and meet Garba Shehu and Femi Adesina.”
Fani-Kayode speaks on allegations that he joined APC for financial reasons
Fani-Kayode had earlier reacted angrily to insinuations that he defected to the APC for financial reasons.
Speaking to a television station hours after his defection, the former minister said he is considerably wealthy as opposed to what people think about him.
He also queried why such comments did not spring up when other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party moved to the APC.
Source: Legit.ng
