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.
Sahara Reporters.
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