EFCC re-arraigns Fani-Kayode for money laundering

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, today (Thursday March 06), told a Federal High court in Lagos that he was not guilty of all the 40 counts of money laundering instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The trial judge, Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, fixed March 10, 17, 18 and 19 for the trial.

The EFCC is accusing Mr. Fani-Kayode, who was also a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, of money laundering. The commission had amended its 47-count charge, totalling N230 million, to a 40\-count charge of N100 million.


According to the EFCC, one Mark Ndifreke, a former aide who is now at large, had deposited various amounts of money running into tens of millions into Mr. Fani-Kayode’s bank account while he was a serving minister.

Other aides such as Florence Salau, Ojo Agbor, Daniel Atogo, Supo Agbaje – all of whom are still at large – had also deposited millions of naira into the former minister’s bank account, the EFCC said.

The anti-graft agency also accused Mr. Fani-Kayode of using his wife, Regina, and his daughter, Remilekun, as a conduit to launder millions of naira.

Mr. Fani-Kayode’s trial has seen three judges and four re-arraignments since 2008 when he was first brought before Justice Ramat Mohammed on a 47 count of money laundering.

Following Mr. Mohammed’s transfer, in 2012, out of the Lagos Division, Justice Binta Nyako, took over the case. Mrs. Nyako was subsequently moved out of Lagos in 2013.

“This matter has been on for so long. I can’t take a date that is convenient for you, you have to take a date that is convenient for the court,” Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia told the prosecution.

The trial had suffered several delays as both the defence and prosecution had filed a plethora of applications which had delayed actual trial.