Court discharges, acquits Fani-Kayode of forgery allegation

The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has discharged and acquitted the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of forgery charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, while ruling on the case, yesterday, said that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant, adding that the counsel failed to establish a link between the defendant and the offences charged.

The court further said that the prosecution failed to present the defendant’s associates who allegedly collected money from him or the lawyer who allegedly stated that the defendant had instructed his law firm to take the medical reports to the Federal High Court.

“The extrajudicial statements, which remain, and which are intended as evidence, cannot be used for any purpose other than to contradict the person who made the statement when he is in the witness box.

“I have carefully studied the evidences of the prosecution witnesses and cannot find where the defendant committed the offences being alleged. The prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case that would require the defendant to open his defence,” the court held.

The court, on the issue of cost, held that “the defendant is at liberty to file an action report and do so in private.”The judge, therefore, discharged and acquitted him of the alleged offences.

However, it would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had on November 11, 2021 arraigned Fani-Kayode on a 12-count charge bordering on allegation of procuring and execution of documents by false pretences, use of false documents, fabrication of evidence and use of fabricated evidence.

But on December 7, 2024, Fani-Kayode filed a no-case submission and urged the court to dismiss the prosecution case against him, noting that the prosecutor had failed in establishing the charge against him.

On January 15, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja had discharged the former minister of the three-count charge bordering on money laundering levelled against him by the EFCC.

Justice John Tsoho, in his ruling, held that EFCC failed woefully in proving the charge against Fani-Kayode. The court held that his decision was based on the prosecution’s failure to provide sufficient evidence linking Fani-Kayode to the alleged offences.