A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered a former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode to pay a fine of N200,000 for being absent from court for his re-arraignment, on the excuse of having bed rest.
Mr Fani-Kayode, also the Chairman of the 2015 Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, is standing trial alongside Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Finance; a former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Danjuma Yusuf, and a limited liability company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.
The trial of the defendants had first commenced in 2016 before Justice Muslim S.Hassan.
At the resumed sitting on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the matter was to start afresh.
However, Mr Fani-kayode, who is the second defendant, was not in court to take his plea.
Mrs Buhari, therefore, urged the court to revoke his bail.
In his response, Mr Fani-kayode’s lawyer, F.B. Ajudua, pleaded with the court not to revoke his client’ bail.
According to him, “ a letter has been written on his behalf. He is currently on bed rest at Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja.”
He further told the court that “He has been attending his trial since the matter commenced in 2016.
“Today, my Lord, is the only day that he is not in court.”
He, therefore, prayed the court not to revoke Fani-Kayode’s bail, while also asking for a short adjournment.
The Judge, after going through the Court’s records, discovered that Fani-kayode had been absent from court five times.
His absence, according to the Judge, had “stalled the smooth hearing of the charge.”
Justice Osiagor, therefore, held that he would either revoke Fani-Kayode’s bail or fine him N200, 000.00.
Justice Ajudua opted for the option of N200,000. 00 fine.
Consequently, Justice Osiagor ordered Fani-Kayode to a fine of N200, 000, 00, which must be paid before the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned till November 30, 2021 for the re-arraignment of the defendants.
