A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode to pay a fine of N200,000 for being absent from court.
Mr. Fani-Kayode was absent on Wednesday for his re-arraignment, claiming through his counsel, Mr F. Ajudua that he was under bed rest.
The presiding judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor, therefore, asked him to choose between revoking his bail condition or paying the fine.
Justice Osaigor said that having gone through the court’s file, he observed five different letters seeking adjournment on the same medical grounds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Fani-Kayode alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, one Danjuma Yusuf, a former Chairman of ALGON, and a limited liability company, Jointrust Dimensions Nigeria Limited.
The EFCC profferred 17 counts of money laundering to the tune of N4.6 billion against them before Justice Mohammed Aikawa who was initially the trial judge until he was transferred out of the Lagos Jurisdiction.
They all, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.
The case was subsequently assigned to a new judge, Justice Osaigor, and the defendants were scheduled for re-arraignment on Wednesday (October 13).
