Fake medical report: Fani-Kayode's arraignment frustrated

By Francis IWUCHUKWU

The arraignment of Nigeria’s former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, over allegations of procuring medical report by false pretence, was on Tuesday frustrated before Justice Abike-Fadipe of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode was dragged before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 12-count charge bordering on procurement of medical report from one Dr Ogieva Oziegbe with inventory number 00345 dated October 11, 2021.

Specifically, the anti-graft agency alleged that on October 11, 2021, Fani-Kayode, in Kubwa, Abuja, fraudulently connived with one Dr Ogieva Oziegbe to execute a document titled: ‘Medical Report on Olufemi Fani-Kayode 60 YEARS/MALE/HOSP. NO.00345’ and purported same to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.

The Commission further noted that procuring and execution of documents by false pretence is contrary to Section 369 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo had asked the court to take the plea of the defendant over the allegation.

But Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Wale Balogun moves against the prayer, with an argument that the defence team had filed an application to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

In his response, Rotimi Oyedepo prayed the judge to throw out the application for the reason that it is an attempt to frustrate trial because the defendant was charged on Lagos law, and it can only be heard in Lagos jurisdiction.

Oyedepo posited that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, has addressed various antics about frivolous applications meant to delay the wheel of justice.

Justice Abike-Fadipe reserved ruling till December 17, 2021, after listening to the submissions of both lawyers.

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