One of the sureties who stood for the bail granted to former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode in the money laundering case against him, at the Federal High Court in Lagos, has officially applied to withdraw his suretiship.

Fani-Kayode, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged money laundering offences he committed while serving as Culture and Tourism Minister and later Aviation Minister.

The surety, Wale Ajisebutu, according to court papers, had formally made an application to Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia to withdraw from the case as surety to Fani-Kayode.

The surety had hinged his application on the ground that he urgently needed to make use of the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) he deposited to the court, to secure Fani-Kayode’s bail after his arraignment for the money laundering crime.

The application was initially scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, but the defence wrote a letter, asking for another date.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to March 26 for hearing of the application and continuation of trial.

At the last adjourned date, Fani-Kayode’s first defence witness, Kola Olapoju, had admitted that the transactions that led to the trial were “unusual and exceptional.”

Olapoju made the concession under cross-examination by EFCC’s counsel, Festus Keyamo.

The witness, who is a lawyer and co-administrator of the estate of Fani-Kayode’s late father, had in his evidence in chief, told the court that while the accused was in public service in 2006, he requested for funds from the said estate of his father to pay artisans who effected repairs on their property.

Olapoju, under cross-examination, recalled that he had known Fani-Kayode for over 20 years and that he had been managing the properties of the estate for about 14 years. He added that there were five beneficiaries, but the beneficiaries are now four.

“It is not usual for any of the beneficiaries to withdraw funds. It is the core administrator that gives instructions on funds withdrawal, Olapoju stressed.

Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia had earlier dismissed 38 out of the 40 counts against the accused.

The judge, however, said the accused would need to prove his innocence in respect of counts 25 and 26 of the charges.

The counts read: “That you, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or before September 20, 2006, while serving as Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a transaction exceeding N500,000 which was not done through financial institution, by accepting cash payment of N1m, which sum was further paid into your personal account number, 103450252601 with First Inland Bank PLc Apapa branch, now FCMB, through one Supo Agbaje, your administrative staff, now at large.

“That you, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on or before September 20, 2006, while serving as Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a transaction exceeding N500,000, which was not done through financial institution, by accepting cash payment of N1.1m, which sum was further paid into your personal account number, 103450252601 with First Inland Bank PLc Apapa branch, now FCMB, through one Supo Agbaje, your administrative staff, now at large.”

•Adapted from Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Fani-Kayode.

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