The federal government has initiated a fresh charge of money laundering against former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Fani-Kayode, who was the Director of Media and Publicity in the campaign organisation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is already standing trial on a 17-count charge of money laundering before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Fani-Kayode is being tried in Lagos with a former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.
They are charged with unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money to the tune of N4.9 billion on the defendants.
The new charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016, which has Femi Fani-Kayode as the sole defendant, was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fani-Kayode is accused, in the five-count charge, of diverting N26million, which he allegedly received from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) while Sambo Dsuki was in office.
He is also accused of handling the said N26miliion without using a financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act.
When the case was called yesterday before Justice John Tsoho, the prosecution was absent.
Although Fani-Kayode was absent, he was represented by a team of lawyers led by Wale Balogun. Balogun said he did not know why the prosecution, who filed the charge and was aware of the date, was absent.
He complained that his client was yet to be served with the charge as required. He sought for time, following which the judge adjourned to November 10 for arraignment.
Justice Tsoho ordered that hearing notice be served on the EFCC.
