Former minister of aviation and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, has revealed that the Appeal Court has quashed the charges filed against him and others for the misappropriation of 4.6 billion naira and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Fani-Kayode alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, before a Federal High Court in Lagos on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering.
Fani-Kayode and Usman served as finance and aviation ministers in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, whose tenure ended in 2007.
Also charged was Yusuf Danjuma, a former chairperson of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.
The EFCC had earlier preferred a 17-count charge of N4.6 billion money laundering against the defendants before the former trial judge, Mohammed Aikawa.
After a few adjournments, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos scheduled the continuation of the trial of Fani-Kayode and three others for April 25 2023.
Fani-Kayode on Friday, however, took to social media to celebrate his acquittal by the Appeal Court, saying that God’s grace and mercy fought for him and that his innocence also spoke for him.
“Yesterday, the Court of Appeal quashed the charges filed against me, the former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman and others at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the EFCC for the misappropriation of 4.6 billion naira and money laundering,” Fani-Kayode tweeted.
“The case lasted for 7 long years. Glory be to God! This is the second time the Lord has done this and it is a testimony of His goodness and mercy.
“History records that in 2008 I was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos and was prosecuted by the EFCC for the misappropriation of 19.5 billion naira.
“Again the case lasted for 7 long years. Thanks be to God, I was discharged, acquitted and cleared of all charges in 2015. Yesterday, the Lord did it again.
“On both occasions His grace and mercy fought for me and my innocence spoke for me. God is awesome in battle and faithful to His own! He is my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head! Glory be to His name!.”
(Adapted from a report by Guardian)
