Fani-Kayode in trouble as his surety applies to withdraw

One Wale Ajisebutu has written to a Federal High Court in Lagos seeking to withdraw as a surety for a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who is facing money laundering charges.

Ajisebutu was one of the two persons who stood as sureties for Fani-Kayode in the fulfilment of the bail conditions granted him by Justice Ramat Mohammed in December 2008.

The bail was in the sum of N200m.

Ajisebutu’s application to withdraw was listed for hearing before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia on Tuesday.

It was, however, not taken as it was learnt that Fani-Kayode had written to the court seeking for an adjournment.

The surety said he was withdrawing because he had an urgent need for the documents of his landed property, which he had deposited into the court’s custody.

Further proceeding in Fani-Kayode’s trial had been adjourned till March 26.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had charged him with 40 counts of money laundering.

It was the allegation of the anti-graft agency, that while he was Minister of Culture of Tourism and the Minister of Aviation, Fani-Kayode severally dealt in cash sums above N500,000 without going through any financial institution.

The alleged  offence was said to have contravened Sections 15(1) (a) (b) (c) (d) and 15 (2) (a) (b) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2004.

But Ofili-Ajumogobia, had on November 17, dismissed 38 of the counts for failure of the EFCC to prove the particulars of the offence.

Fani-Kayode, who is the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation, is currently canvassing arguments to exonerate himself of the remaining two counts.

The counts read, “That you, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or before September 20, 2006, while serving as Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a transaction exceeding N500,000 which was not done through financial institution, by accepting cash payment of N1m, which sum was further paid into your personal account number, 103450252601 with First Inland Bank PLc Apapa branch, now FCMB, through one Supo Agbaje, your administrative staff, now at large.