N4.9bn fraud: Absence of trial judge stalls arraignment of Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman

The arraignment of former Minister of Finance, Nnadi Usman and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode was on Tuesday stalled following the absence of the trial judge, Sule Hassan.

The former Ministers are to be arraigned at a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos on a 17-county charge for allegedly laundering N4.9bn.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the accused persons allegedly committed the offences between January and March, 2015.

The commission alleged that Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign in the 2015 elections, was investigated for allegedly receiving money meant for arms purchase from the office of the former National Security Adviser.

The judge was said to be absent due to an official engagement.

Fani Kayode was first arraigned last Friday but the case was postponed till today owing to the judge’s absence.

Others charged alongside the onetime Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP include, former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman; one Danjuma Yusuf and a company, and Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.