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Why court discharged and acquitted Fani-Kayode of money laundering charges
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, Wednesday, discharged and acquitted a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, of money laundering charges.
While reading her judgment which lasted almost 50 minutes, Ms. Ofili-Ajumogobia said that the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission presented “a feeble case” and failed to link Mr. Fani-Kayode with the charged offences.
”It is apparent that the prosecution’s case is feeble and has failed to establish that the accused person paid or accepted cash deposits exceeding the authorised limit and did not do so through a financial institution,” the judge said.
“The prosecution has therefore failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that an offence had been committed under Section 15(1) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act (2004).
“I am of the considered view that the accused person, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in the absence of copious evidence connecting him to the offence charged ought to be discharged and acquitted of the two surviving counts of the amended charge and I so hold.”
The EFCC had arraigned Mr. Fani-Kayode before Ms. Ofili-Ajumogobia in 2013 on a 40 count amended charge of money laundering amounting to almost N100 million while he was the minister of aviation in 2006.
Last year, the judge struck out 38 of the 40 charges, leaving the prosecution with a two count charge of money laundering of N2.1 million.
The EFCC alleged that N1.1 million and N1 million – amounts exceeding the N500,000 threshold – were paid into the bank account of Mr. Fani-Kayode at the former minister’s behest.
The Commission said that the transactions were done without going through a financial institution.
In her judgment, Ms. Ofili-Ajumogobia said that the prosecution’s fourth witness gave an unreliable testimony.
”Taking cognisance of the fact that the oral testimony of PW4 before this court is at variance with his earlier voluntary submission before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, I find unreliable the testimony of PW4 that it was the accused person that gave him money to pay into the latter’s account,” the judge said.
“His testimony before this court seems to be an afterthought, in view of the fact that PW4 who was stated by the prosecution to be at large initially suddenly appeared to give testimony on behalf of the prosecution.
“The law is trite that where there are two or more conflicting testimonies by a witness, such testimony must be discarded by the court.”
The judge also said that the defence witnesses painted a “somewhat coherent but doubtful story” as to how the stated amounts ended up in Mr. Fani-Kayode’s bank account.
”The doubtfulness in the account of the defence lay in the fact that they failed to show that the same money that they referred to were the exact same money PW4 referred to in his testimony,” said the judge.
“I agree with Mr. Keyamo that it was a costly omission for the defence to have failed to cross examine PW4 with respect to the testimony of PW1 and PW2 in order to test the veracity of PW4’s testimony.
“However, I do not agree with Mr. Keyamo for the prosecution that evidence of deposits in the bank account of the accused person without proof is sufficient evidence to show that the latter received cash payments from unknown sources of sums above the statutory threshold of N500,000.
“The fallacy in such argument lies in the fact that it would remain unclear as to whether the accused person received the alleged sum in tranches of at least N500,000 in each case. Is it not possible that the accused person received the cash in lumps of N499,000 or even N300,000 in each case.
“This is so because no offence is committed when the amount received outside the financial institution is less than N500,000.
“There is no doubt, therefore, as widely canvassed by learned counsel for the defence that it is necessary for sufficient and unequivocal evidence to be put before the court as to how and in what manner the money were actually received.”
The judge further stated that since there is insufficient evidence linking the accused person with the ingredients of the offence charged, that the court must discharge him as a matter of law.
On the second element of whether the money was paid into Mr. Fani-Kayode’s bank account on his behest, the judge said that prosecution also failed to prove that he did so.
“It is apt to note that this second element is an offence not by provisions of the money laundering act but rather by the manner in which counts 25 and 26 are framed.
“It is important to make this point because the Money Laundering Act only criminalises financial transactions which are above the threshold when they are not done through a financial institution.
“Ordinarily, the crime would have been proven upon the successful establishment of the first element alone, but the prosecution had introduced the second element in it. And the law requires that the prosecution proves the offence of charge.”
The judge also stated that the confessional statement the prosecution purportedly obtained from Mr. Fani-Kayode is irrelevant as it failed to link him to the charged offences.
“By virtue of summation of the Evidence Act, confessional statements are only admissible when they are voluntary, relevant, direct, legal, unequivocal of the facts required to prove the offence.
“I think that the said confessional statement is too vague, general, and in no way links the accused person to the offence charged. It is irrelevant.
“I have established in the course of this judgment that it is settled fact that the sum of N1.1 million and N1 million were paid to the accused person on the 20th and 29th of September 2006 by PW4.
“What remains unclear is the source of the money and whether it was the accused person that instructed PW4 to make the payments. This is yet another element of doubt that must be resolved in favour of the accused person.”
Mr. Fani-Kayode’s trial saw three judges and four re-arraignment since 2008 when he was first brought before Justice Ramat Mohammed on a 47 count of money laundering.
In 2012, following Mr. Mohammed’s transfer out of the Lagos Judicial Division, Binta Nyako took over the case.
Judge Nyako was also moved out of the Lagos Division in 2013, and the trial re-assigned to Mrs. Ofili-Ajumogobia.
When Nigerians started celebrating after the United States launched an attack against terrorists in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, Primate Ayodele stood out when he said the nation shouldn’t celebrate yet because there would be reprisal attacks.
Many quickly lashed out at him, calling him all sort of names like prophet of doom, fake prophet, bet9ja prophet, to mention but a few. However, the prophet stood his ground and continued to warn President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team that terrorists are planning to attack some Nigerian states.
His words after the US-led attack were:
“Nigerians shouldn’t celebrate yet, and President Tinubu shouldn’t celebrate either, because the powerlessness of his government is getting exposed, and America can come up with anything against him. This won’t stop kidnapping or insecurity in Nigeria.
“The government of Nigeria must work on it because the US cannot do it without the Nigerian government.
“Another bombing is coming up, and these bandits are ready for the consequences. They are also ready to counter-attack heavily; the government must get prepared for the outcome.”
Many didn’t know that Primate Ayodele isn’t a prophet that just speaks for attention sake, he speaks as directed by the most high God and that’s why he is always fearless in his approaches. Despite the fact that even the presidency celebrated it, he called their attention to some plans of terrorists across the country.
It’s been barely two months after the attack of the United States, and the country is back to more folds of insecurity across the country. Bandits have launched full-fledged attacks on the nation, killing several innocent souls without getting checked or arrested.
If only security operatives listens to Primate Ayodele’s warning, he vividly mentioned some of the states that bandits or terrorist would be visiting. He shared them in a prophet at least twice, including in video recordings but we wonder what these security operatives do with sensitive messages like this.
In one of the prophetic moment, he mentioned about eight states that will be attacked by terrorists if care isn’t taken.
“These states, Nasarawa, Abuja, Ondo, Kaduna, Sokoto, Benue, Katsina, Yobe, should be paid close attention to. They should deploy more soldiers to these states.”
Just yesterday in Benue, In Benue State, 17 people, including a Mobile Police officer, were killed when gunmen attacked the Abande market in Mbaikyor Ward, Turan district of Kwande Local Government Area. Gunmen opened fire on traders and residents, killing many on the spot. Police spokesperson in Benue State, Udeme Edet confirmed the attack.
In Katsina, In Katsina State, at least 20 residents were killed when bandits stormed Doma community in Tafoki Ward, Faskari Local Government Area.
Witnesses said the attackers moved unhindered, shooting villagers and setting houses and vehicles ablaze before fleeing. Faskari Local Government Chairman Surajo Aliyu confirmed the incident, describing it as a deadly reprisal and the worst in recent months.
In Kwara too, Primate Ayodele had said earlier before now, just after the Eruku incident, that he still sees attacks in the state.
In fulfilment of this, bandits killed at least 10 villagers in Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area. The attackers, reportedly operating from the Borgu National Park forest in neighboring Niger State, invaded the communities around 6.00 pm, firing sporadically and setting houses ablaze.
Sincerely, all of these could have been avoided by they failed to listen.
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Former Pension Reform Task Team Chairman, Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina, Hospitalised After Sudden Collapse in Abuja
Former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina, on Tuesday evening slumped while attempting to access his office premises in Abuja and was immediately rushed to a private hospital for urgent medical care.
The incident occurred after complications arising from an untreated knee injury reportedly caused him to lose balance and fall on a staircase, resulting in a head impact that required immediate medical attention from personnel at the scene.
Confirming the development in an official statement, Emmanuel Umahi Ekwe, Esq., Media Assistant to Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina, speaking on behalf of his family, said the former pension reform chief was promptly stabilised and transferred to a private medical facility in the Federal Capital Territory, where he is currently under close supervision by a team of doctors.
According to the statement, preliminary medical evaluations indicate that Dr. Maina remains under observation, while specialists have advised that arrangements for a possible air ambulance evacuation may be considered should his condition require advanced or specialised treatment.
The situation has drawn concern from associates, professional colleagues, and well-wishers across the country, given Dr. Maina’s prominent role in Nigeria’s public sector and pension reform initiatives.
His family has appealed to the public for prayers, understanding, and respect for privacy during this critical period, assuring that further updates will be communicated as developments unfold.
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President Tinubu in Turkey: Guard of Honor and Strategic Agreements Signal New Era in Bilateral Relations
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was accorded a full guard of honor during his official state visit to Turkey, a ceremonial reception reserved for world leaders and a strong signal of the respect Nigeria commands on the global stage.
The ceremony, held at the Turkish Presidential Complex in Ankara, featured military pageantry, national anthems, and formal protocol before high-level bilateral talks commenced.
The Presidency confirmed that President Tinubu briefly stumbled due to a camera cable while proceeding to the presidential lodge but stood up immediately and continued his engagements without interruption, stressing that the incident had no impact on the visit or his health.
More importantly, the visit delivered substantive diplomatic and economic outcomes. During talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 27, 2026, Nigeria and Turkey signed nine cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering military cooperation, higher education, diaspora policy, media and communication, halal accreditation, diplomatic training, and the establishment of a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).
At a joint press conference, President Tinubu emphasized the need to deepen cooperation in security, trade, and economic development, while President Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and commitment to strengthening strategic ties.
With Turkey’s strengths in defense technology, intelligence, education, and industrial capacity, the agreements open new opportunities for technology transfer, security collaboration, trade expansion, and human capital development.
In essence, the Turkey visit stands as a diplomatic success, defined not by a fleeting moment, but by honor, respect, and concrete agreements that advance Nigeria’s security, economy, and international standing.
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