Wednesday’s hearing of the Lagos State Special Offenses Court in Ikeja threatened to make Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, wanted for failing to show up for his trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is pursuing Fani-Kayode on 12 counts related to the use of forged documents, the use of manufactured evidence, and obtaining the execution of documents under false pretense.
The ex-minister is being sued by the EFCC for an alleged N4.9 billion fraud, and he presented allegedly fabricated medical reports to Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
When the matter came up on Wednesday, Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe issued a threat due to Fani-Kayode’s failure to show up for trial after being arraigned on December 17, 2021, and subsequent adjournments, which displeased the judge.
During the previous court session, Mr. Wale Balogun, the defendant’s lawyer, explained to the court that the defendant was not present due to health issues related to Fani-Kayode’s questioning by the Department of State Services regarding some pre-election statements.
Balogun had requested an adjournment from the court, promising to be present at Wednesday’s proceeding. During the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Mr. Chinozo Eze, the defendant’s counsel, informed the court that Fani-Kayode was absent from court due to health problems.
He told the court that there was already a medical report and a letter requesting permission to reschedule the two dates in the court’s records. Zinat Atiku, the EFCC’s counsel, confirmed the situation and stated that the prosecution’s options were limited in terms of how to proceed.
The judge expressed disapproval of the defendant’s repeated absence and pointed out that the defendant’s last appearance in court was on November 4, 2022.
In court, the judge referred to a collection of explanations that were presented by the defendant for Fani-Kayode to attend his trial.
If he does not appear on the next adjourned date, Justice Abike-Fadipe has threatened to issue a bench warrant against him.
The judge expressed disapproval towards the prosecutor for being negligent in their handling of the case.
The judge also mentioned that if the prosecutor was not prepared to carry out the prosecution, the anti-graft could withdraw the case.
