An Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State, on Friday granted former Aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, bail in the sum of N5 million.
The former minister is facing trail on a 12-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fani-Kayode was alleged to have forged medical reports to evade trial. The former minister was said to have conspired with one Dr Ogieva Oziegbe to forge some hospital documents, in a bid to stall hearing of the case against him on money-laundering.
Meanwhile, following the commencement of court proceedings on Friday, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe ruled that Fani-Kayode be granted bail in the sum of N5 million.
This was sequel to an oral application made by counsel to the former minister, Wale Balogun.
In an oral application, Balogun prayed the court to grant him bail in accordance with Section 115(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021 as amended.
He argued that his client has since 2016, been standing trial before two justices of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court and had met all the requirements for bail in the cases.
His words,
“Upon the commencement of investigation into this matter, the defendant was invited on Nov. 23 by the EFCC and interviewed for several hours and granted bail on self-recognition.
.“He was also invited on Nov. 30 by the commission where he was served the current charge.
“He was released to me and I gave an undertaking to produce him in court for arraignment.
“All the offences in the charge are bailable, with punishment ranging from three to seven years. We apply that your lordship’s absolute discretion be applied to the defendant.”
After hearing the argument, the presiding judge granted the former minister bail on the grounds that EFCC did not appear to oppose the bail application and that the defendant did not pose a flight risk.
“The defendant shall execute a bond in the sum of five million naira and file an undertaking that he shall attend all proceedings in this case.
“The defendant shall present a surety in like sum who shall be resident within the jurisdiction of this court; the surety shall also execute a bond in the sum of five million naira,” she ruled.
