BEVERLY HILLS, June 28, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Campaign, Femi Fani-Kayode and former Finance minister, Senator Nenadi Usman before Justice Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Fani-Kayode, who was once the minister of Aviation, and Usman, who was the director of finance of the PDP presidential campaign in 2015, were remanded in Prison pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
They were charged to court alongside Danjuman Yussuf, Olubode Oke and Join Trust Dimensions Nigeria Limited. While Fani-Kayode was named in all 17 count- charge bordering on unlawful retention, use and payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion, Usman was named in only four of the charges.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015.
In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
In counts Eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonbly ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.
Meanwhile, in counts 15 to17, Fani-Kayode alongside one Olubode Oke said to now be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.
Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Part of the charge reads: “That you, NENADI ESTHER USMAN, FEMI FANI-KAYODE, DANJUMA YUSUF and JOINTRUST DIMENTIONS NIGERIA LTD on or about the 8th day of January, 2015, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to indirectly retain the sum of N1,500, 000,000.00 (One Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act.
‘That you, NENADI ESTHER USMAN, DANJUMAN YUSUF AND JOINTRUST DIMENTIONS NIGERIA LTD on or about the 9th day of January, 2015, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly retained the sum of N300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira ) which sum you reasonably ought to have known form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: corruption, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) & 4 of the same Act…”
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty, consequently the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to order for accelerated hearing and remand the accused in prison custody pending the determination of the charge
Meanwhile, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe SAN appeared for Fani-Kayode, Fred Orbih SAN appeared for Usman, and S.I Ameh SAN appeared for Danjuma Yusuf. The defence counsels all opposed Oyedepo application
The presiding judge, Justice Hassan, after listening to both parties, noted that “since the prosecution was only served bail application yesterday, and in the interest of justice, it will be fair if the prosecution is given the opportunity to respond”.
He ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned to Friday, July 1, 2016 for hearing of bail applications.
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