FORMER Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has
asked the Federal High Court, Lagos, to admit him to bail 24 hours after he
was arraigned on a 17-count charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC). He also alleged that he is being pressured by EFCC to refund
N84o million without trial.
In the motion for bail filed on his behalf by his
counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), Fani-Kayode told the court that he would be
ready and willing to provide a responsible surety(ies) as may be required by
the court as a condition(s) for the grant of his application.
He argued that under the Administration of Criminal
Justice Act (ACJA), bail is more relaxed as all offences are bailable “and in
the class of offences charged, it is the prosecution that has a burden to show
why bail should be refused. More so, under the Act, all offences can be
compounded by plea bargain. So, it is not about imprisonment any longer.”
He further argued that one of the co-accused in the
charge, a former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, who allegedly
received the money from government and paid Fani-Kayode, wrote that she did not
know the money was from government. So, how would Fani- Kayode know?
EFCC slammed Fani- Kayode and Usman with a 17-count
charge for fraud and money laundering.
Fani-Kayode was arrested for allegedly receiving N840
million during the presidential campaign of former president Goodluck
Jonathan.
In the motion dated June 15, 2016, Raji argued that the
offences, for which his client is charged, are bailable.
“The Defendant/Applicant has never been convicted of
any offence in Nigeria or any other jurisdiction.
By Section 36 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Defendant/Applicant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
The reputation and past credible record of the
Defendant/Applicant attest to the fact that he will not jump bail if he is
granted same. The Defendant/ Applicant will not interfere with the
investigation or further investigation of the charges preferred against him.”
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