Court grants EFCC remand application on Fani-Kayode

Fani-Kayode

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja has granted a remand application brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) seeking to remand Femi Fani-Kayode on alleged N1.5 billion fraud.

Fani Kayode, the former spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2015 general election was brought before Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi at about 10:55 am yesterday appeared in white Kaftan with slippers.

When the matter was called at about 12:30, the anti-graft counsel, Mr. A. N. Anana told the court of the application for an order of remand dated May 10,2016 brought pursuant to Section 261 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2011 of Lagos State pending when he will be properly arraigned at the appropriate court.

“We have an application before the court, an order of remand dated May 10 brought pursuant to Section 261 of ACJL, attached with it is a nine paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by one Tosin Ngbodagha.”
Anana, therefore, urged the court to grant the application.

However in opposition to the EFCC’s remand application, Fani Kayode’s counsel, Mr. Wale Balogun argued that the anti-graft application was to breach his constitutional rights. He said that the defendant had being granted an administrative bail by the EFCC on May 12 but not released.

He also informed the court the anti-graft agency had gotten the same order of remand for 14 days before an Abuja Chief Magistrate court after it expired they brought him (Fani Kayode) to Lagos on the same issue.

He argued that “on the issue of remand, we are asking the court that defendant cannot be remanded in the lieu of the fact that the matter is pending before High court on the same subject, under the Criminal Justice Act of Lagos. It is a breach of the constitution. They granted him bail but refuse to release him.”

He, therefore, urged the court to disregard the EFCC’s remand application against his client.

However, after listening to their submission, Magistrate Osunsanmi stand down the matter for ruling.

At about 2:07pm when the court began ruling which did not last more than three minutes, dismissed Kayode’s application.

She held that he failed to exhibit any document before the court to show that the former Minister of Aviation has been charged before any court for the alleged offence.

She therefore ordered that Fani-Kayode be remanded in the EFCC’s custody for three weeks pending when he will be arraigned at the appropriate court.