Armsgate: Fani-Kayode to remain in EFCC custody for 3 weeks
A Lagos Magistrate court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday, granted an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking to remand former spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2015 general election, Mr. Femi Fani Kayode on alleged N1.4bn fraud.
Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi granted the remand application after she had listened to the argument of counsel representing the anti-graft agency, Mr. A. N. Anana and Fani Kayode’s counsel, Wale Balogun.
In its argument, the EFCC had stated that the remand application dated 10th of May, 2016, was pursuant to section 261 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJL, 2011, of Lagos State, was to remand Fani-Kayode, who appeared in court in a white Kaftan and slippers, pending when he will be properly be arraigned at the appropriate Court.
“I urge your Lordship to remand the defendant because if he is not remanded, he may likely tamper with the investigation which is on-going” Anana said.
Responding to EFCC’s remand application, counsel to Fani-kayode, Balogun, argued that the anti-graft application’s move was to breach his constitutional rights, adding that the defendant had been granted an administrative bail by the EFCC but was never allow to leave even after he had met the bail condition.
He also informed the court the anti-graft agency had gotten the same order of remand before an Abuja Chief Magistrate court.
He, therefore, urged the court to disregard the EFCC’s remand application against his client.
However, Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi dismissed Kayode’s application holding to the fact 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 at the EFCC’s custody for 21 days pending when he will be arraigned at the appropriate court.
