An Ikeja Special Offences Court has acquitted and discharged former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of medical forgery charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe delivered the ruling on the ‘no case submission’ filed by Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Wale Balogun (SAN), stating that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
The judge held that the EFCC did not provide sufficient evidence linking Fani-Kayode to the alleged offence.
She noted that key witnesses, including the defendant’s associates who allegedly collected money from him and the lawyer who reportedly submitted the medical reports, were not presented before the court.
“I have carefully studied the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and cannot find where the defendant committed the offences alleged,” Justice Abike-Fadipe ruled.
She further stated that extrajudicial statements tendered as evidence could not be used substantively against the defendant.
As a result, the court ruled that there was no need for the defendant to open his defence and subsequently discharged him of all charges.
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