A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that two former ministers,
Nenadi Usman, and Femi Fani-Kayode, be remanded till Friday when their
bail applications would be heard.
The two ex-ministers as well as Danjuma Yusuf and a firm, Jointrust
Dimensions Nigeria Limited, were on Tuesday arraigned by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 17-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the
amount authorized by law.
Mrs. Usman is a former minister of finance and director of finance of
the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization in the
2015 election.
Mr. Fani-Kayode is a former aviation minister. He also served during
the 2015 election as director media/publicity of the PDP Presidential
Campaign Organization.
They are alleged to have stolen and illegally disbursed about N4.9 billion belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them, part of which 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”..
In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo asked that trial commence immediately and that the case be given accelerated hearing.
However, counsel to accused: Fred Orbih (SAN), Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), and S. I. Ameh (SAN) for first. Second and third accused respectively, informed the court of their applications for bail. But Rotimi said he needed time to respond to the applications and urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending the consideration of the bail applications.
Justice Hassan ruled 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 therefore ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody and adjourned to Friday, July 1, 2016 for hearing of bail applications.
In view of their plea, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo asked that trial commence immediately and that the case be given accelerated hearing.
However, counsel to accused: Fred Orbih (SAN), Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), and S. I. Ameh (SAN) for first. Second and third accused respectively, informed the court of their applications for bail. But Rotimi said he needed time to respond to the applications and urged the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending the consideration of the bail applications.
Justice Hassan ruled 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 therefore 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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