TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, for allegedly forging a medical report to evade trial.

The EFCC, in a 12-count charge filed before the court, accused Fani-Kayode of presenting a false medical report before a federal high court in Ikoyi.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the former aviation minister hired one Ogieva Oziegbe to produce the alleged false medical report.

“Procuring execution of documents by false pretence contrary to section 369 of The Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015,” the charge sheet reads.

Fani-Kayode, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following the defendant’s plea, EFCC counsel, S.I. Suleiman, asked the court to remand the former minister pending commencement of trial.

Wale Balogun, the defendant’s counsel, however, prayed the court to grant his client bail in accordance with section 115(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021, as amended.

He said the defendant has, since 2016, been standing trial before two judges of the Lagos division of the federal high court and had met all the requirements for bail in the cases.

Balogun noted that Fani-Kayode had deposited his international passport to the court as part of the conditions for his bail.

“Upon the commencement of investigation into this matter, the defendant was invited on November 23 by the EFCC and interviewed for several hours and granted bail on self-recognition,” he said.

“He was also invited on November 30 by the commission where he was served the current charge.

“He was released to me and I gave an undertaking to produce him in court for arraignment.

“He is 61 years old and by no means a flight risk.

“All the offences in the charge are bailable, with punishment ranging from three to seven years. We apply that your lordship’s absolute discretion be applied to the defendant.”

Ruling on the application, Abike-Fadipe, the presiding judge, said the EFCC did not appear to oppose the bail application.

She also noted that the defendant did not pose a flight risk.

“The defendant shall execute a bond in the sum of N5 million and file an undertaking that he shall attend all proceedings in this case,” she said.

“The defendant shall present a surety in like sum who shall be resident within the jurisdiction of this court; the surety shall also execute a bond in the sum of N5 million.”

Earlier, the judge dismissed the defendant’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him on the fresh charge.