N4.6b alleged fraud: Judge hands-off Fani-Kayode, Usman trial

Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday excused himself from the trial of Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, charged with N4.6 billion for alleged money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Fani-Kayode on a 17-count charge, alongside Esther Nenadi Usman, a former finance minister and one Yusuf Danjuma for the alleged fraud.

At the continuation of trial on Thursday, Justice Hassan withdrew from the case.

His withdrawal followed an application filed by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN), urging the court to step aside from the trial.

Justice Hassan while ruling on the application said although counsels had not been able to show or prove any element of bias, it will serve the interest of justice for him to withdraw from the trial.

The judge also held that the case file will be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge.

At the last adjourned date, counsel to Fani-Kayode, Quakers had argued the application before the court, explaining why the judge should be recused from the trial of the accused.

Quakers had contended that Justice Hassan, who worked as Head of Legal services at the EFCC before his appointment as a judge, signed the money laundering charges for which Fani-Kayode was previously prosecuted years back.