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Tag: Festus Keyamo

  • Fani-Kayode: No formal report made, witness tells court

    Fani-Kayode: No formal report made, witness tells court

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that no formal report was made to any authority on the alleged financial transactions of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode.

    Prosecution witness, Elonna Ezelo, told the Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia- presided court that the accused first maintained an account with First Atlantic Bank Plc, which later transformed from First Inland Bank Plc to Finbank Plc and now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

    Fani-Kayode is standing trial on an amended 40-count charge bordering on money laundering.

    Ezelo, a Legal Officer with the FCMB, led in evidence by prosecuting Festus Keyamo, told the court that he collated the statements of account of the accused, which revealed transactions involving cash, cheques, draft and transfers.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case till March 19 for continuation of trial.

     

    According to the witness, between July 2006 and January 2007, there were four deposit transactions captured in the accused’s statement of account as follows: N660,000, N6million, N10. 9 million and N3.3 million.

    But under cross-examination by defence counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), the witness told the court that no formal report was made by the bank to any authority, in relation to the statement of account of the accused.

     

  • Delta monarch collapses at police command

    Delta monarch collapses at police command

    A Delta traditional ruler collapsed yesterday at the state police command headquarters after he was arrested for giving false information to the police.

    The monarch was rushed to a private clinic.

    Abavo kingdom in Ika South Local Government has been embroiled in a kingship tussle after some persons crowned Obi Chukwuma Sunday Jegbefume 111 as the new king.

    The government waded into the matter and the police arrested over 20 persons. Nineteen others were declared wanted for breaching public peace.

    The embattled monarch, Obi Uche Irenuma 11, who was invited by the police was arrested after he was accused of allegedly giving false information.

    The monarch’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, who was represented at a news briefing in Asaba, said the monarch, fearing his mother had been kidnapped because he heard gunshots from her home, called the police commissioner, informing him of the development.

    Keyamo said the DPO in Abavo found that the king’s mother’s home had been burgled by unknown persons.

    He accused the police of hounding “an innocent, law-abiding citizen as a common criminal” and urged the inspector-general of Police to intervene. He also accused the police command of bias.

    “We appeal to the inspector-general of Police to intervene. The police command is biased. The police are acting in line with the directive given to them by their paymasters. We were here last Friday and were asked to come back on Monday. Suddenly, the police are treating the monarch as a common criminal”.

    Keyamo accused highly-placed politicians of being behind the ordeal of the traditional ruler.

    He said his problem started when oil was discovered in his domain.

    “The crisis in that community started as soon as an oil well was discovered by Pan Ocean. Some persons, interested in usurping the process for their personal aggrandisement, started waging war against the traditional ruler.

    “In 2012 there was crisis over the oil wells. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan waded into the dispute, directing that the police command should declare the hoodlums causing mayhem in the community wanted. The monarch has written petitions on threats to his life and family by some politicians interested in the oil in his community.

    “These same disgruntled persons, who were declared wanted, wrote a frivolous petition against the ruler for allegedly inciting communal dispute. He was invited by the police command and he was accompanied by his chiefs. He gave the police his statement and was released on bail last week. After his release, some persons attacked his mother and he called the commissioner of police, complaining of gunshots coming from his mother’s home and he feared his mother had been kidnapped. The police found that the house had been burgled. The monarch, arriving at the command headquarters on Monday, was accused of giving false information. The ruler collapsed because he is hypertensive and was taken to hospital. As we speak, heavily-armed policemen from the command have surrounded the ward and requested he be released to them.”

     

  • Money laundering: Court directs Fani-Kayode to take his plea

    Money laundering: Court directs Fani-Kayode to take his plea

    Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday directed a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, to take his plea in the money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ruling on an objection raised by his lawyer Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), the judge said the charge is valid.

    Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia fixed March 5 for Fani-Kayode’s re-arraignment on an amended 40-count charges.

    Adedipe had raised the objection when EFCC prosecutor Mr. Festus Keyamo, sought to re-arraign the former minister.

    After count-one was read, Adedipe said the charge was invalid as the facts were incomplete.

    The charge, he said, stated that Fani-Kayode “accepted cash payments”, but did not specify who gave him the money.

    Adedipe said his objection was based on Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

    “The accused person is alleged to have received money from a nameless, anonymous person. We have to know the person so we can know who to address. As it is, the charge is vague.

    “They alleged that he ‘accepted’. When you accuse somebody of accepting money, clearly the person from whom the money was accepted becomes important.

    “The other charges there… one of them accused him of having his wife pay money into his account. These charges cannot be valid,” he said.

    But Keyamo said the argument that the giver of the money in a charge of money laundering must be disclosed makes utter nonsense of the very essence of the law prohibiting money laundering.

    This, he said, is because money laundering is a crime that seeks to obliterate the very source of large sums of money found on people.

    “It, therefore, follows that the concealment of the giver of the money which is subject to investigation by an accused person cannot defeat a charge of money laundering.

    “If we accept the argument of defence, it means that all an accused person can do to defeat the effort of the prosecution is to refuse to disclose from where he derives any large sum of money found on him.

    “That will be preposterous and will defeat the object of the law,” Keyamo argued.

     

  • Court reserves ruling on charge against Fani-Kayode

    Court reserves ruling on charge against Fani-Kayode

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed February 10 for ruling on the competence of a criminal charge brought Femi Fani-Kayode, charged with money laundering.

    Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister, is standing trial on an amended 47-count charge bordering on money laundering.

    When the case was called on Monday, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia said she would deliver her ruling on a future date because counsel in the suit had filed their written submissions out of time.

    The judge said she required time to rule on the issue and fixed February 10.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the last adjourned date on January 27, the prosecutor, Mr. Festus Keyamo, had informed the court of an amended charge, containing 40 counts and applied that the plea of the accused be taken.

    After count-one was read to the accused, his counsel, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), raised an objection, arguing that the accused could plead to the charge since it was invalid.

    Adedipe argued that count one stated that the accused, “accepted cash payments of over N10 million,” without stating the donor of the said money.

    He stated that it was alleged throughout the charge, that the accused “accepted various sums of money, without mentioning the names of the person from whom the monies were received.

    Adedipe therefore, submitted that the charge was invalid, “persecutory and oppressive.”

     

  • Fani-Kayode opposes money laundering charge

    Fani-Kayode opposes money laundering charge

    Former Aviation Minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has opposed a fresh money laundering charge the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against him.

    His lawyer, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), opposed the charge yesterday, stalling the former minister’s arraignment.

    EFCC’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo, applied that the amended charge be read to the accused so that he could take his plea.

    But Adedipe objected, saying the accused could not be arraigned because the charge was invalid.

    He said the first count, which stated that Fani-Kayode accepted cash payment of over N10 million, did not specify who gave him the money.

    According to him, it was alleged throughout the charge that the accused accepted various sums of money but no mention was made of the person from whom the money was received.

    Adedipe said the charge was, therefore, not only oppressive but also invalid.

    He said: “The accused is alleged to have received money from a nameless person. We have to know the person so we can know who to address. As it is, the charge is vague.

    “They (prosecution) alleged that he accepted money. When you accuse somebody of accepting money, clearly, the person from whom the money was accepted becomes important.”

    Keyamo said the silence on how the money got to the accused did not matter because Fani-Kayode was not charged with theft but money laundering.

    “The essence of money laundering is when the money has no origin; it’s when you are caught with large sums of money and you cannot explain the source,” Keyamo said.

    Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumugobia urged both parties to file their written addresses within two days.

    He adjourned till February 3 for ruling.

    The EFCC, in the amended 40-count charge, alleged that Fani-Kayode, on various days in 2006 accepted and deposited money at the Apapa branch of a bank through some of his associates and wife.

    One of the counts reads: “That you Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about 22 day of November, 2006, while serving as Minister of Aviation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, made a financial transaction exceeding N500, 000, which was not done through financial institution by accepting cash payment of N10 million, which sum further carried in cash to First Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch (now First City Monument Bank PLC.), through one Saviour Ndifreke, (your close associate now at large), and put in an investment account in your favour for 90 days contrary to section 15 (1) (d) and punishable under section 15 (2) (b) of the money laundry prohibition act, 2004.”

    The judge had adjourned the trial sine dine (indefinitely) after Keyamo said he did no longer wanted Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia to adjudicate the case and that it should be re-assigned to another trial judge, but the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, was said to have refused the request.

  • Keyamo faults Jonathan’ on Service chiefs

    Keyamo faults Jonathan’ on Service chiefs

    •Lawyer threatens legal action within 14 days

    Rights activist Festus Keyamo yesterday criticised President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to sack the nation’s Service chiefs – chief of Air Staff, chief of Army Staff and chief of Naval Staff – five months after their appointments were voided by a court.

    In a letter yesterday, the lawyer claimed that since no one appealed the judgment delivered on July 1, last year, by Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the court’s decision remained valid and subsisting.

    He said: “As it is today, all official actions taken by the Service chiefs since the July 1, 2013, judgment was delivered, are null, void and of no effect in law. It only needs someone who is affected by their official actions to challenge their authority in a court.”

    Justice Adamu held that the appointments of Service chiefs without the approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives is null and void, in line with Section 18(1) and (2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The suit was initiated by Keyamo.

    The lawyer’s letter, written yesterday and titled: Refusal to obey and comply with judgment in respect of appointments of Service Chiefs, was addressed to President Jonathan; Senate president and the House of Representatives speaker.

    “Till now, no appeal has been filed against that judgment. It goes without saying that all the present Service chiefs; Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (chief of Army Staff); Air Vice Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh (chief of Air Staff) and Rear Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba (chief of Naval Staff), were appointed without the confirmation of the National Assembly. Their appointments are, therefore, null and void ab initio,” Keyamo said.

    He regretted that the National Assembly, whose power to confirm the appointment of Service chiefs was activated by the judgment, refused to demand that President Jonathan obey the judgment.

    The lawyer threatened further court actions should the President and others refuse to act within 14 days.

    He added: “In fact, that is why the real intent of Section 18 of the Armed Forces Act is to subject the Armed Forces to civil authority.

    It is also pertinent to observe that neither the President nor the Service chiefs are constitutionally superior to the National Assembly.

    “As a result, the appointment of Service chiefs, which is political, cannot be different from other political appointments that require the confirmation of the National Assembly, e.g. the chief justice of Nigeria, justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, the chairmen of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), ministers and ambassadors.

    “Please, do not give Nigerians the impression that the military is still above the law.

    “The most embarrassing of this scenario is that the c National Assembly has refused to do anything to comply with the judgment when a court of law has clearly given life to that power. It is sad for our democracy.

    “In the circumstance and in the spirit of compliance with court judgments, obedience to and respect for the rule of law, I require that you direct, advise and enforce compliance with the judgment given on July 1, 2013.

    “If within 14 days of the receipt of this letter you all fail to act, I will have no option but to head back to the court to compel compliance.”

  • N100M LAWSUIT: Julius Agwu goes tough on Etisalat

    N100M LAWSUIT: Julius Agwu goes tough on Etisalat

    JOKES apart, rib cracker Julius ‘D Genius’ Agwu seems to be taking his issue with Etisalat telecommunication to a higher level. There had been several rounds of applause since comedian Julius Agwu through his solicitor and lawyer, Festus Keyamo, sued a service provider, Etisalat, for allegedly blocking his line without his consent.

    Julius Agwu, through Keyamo, is asking for a whopping N100, 000, 000 damages. Julius Agwu said that the line was already registered and that despite promises by Etisalat to rectify the fault and taking pains to meet with them, his line is yet to be unblocked.

    According to the humourist, the telecoms brand granted a third party access into his mobile line and illegally transferred his credit in the process. The unidentified individual also gained access into his credit card account. Julius states that the incident happened when he travelled to the USA to see his family.

    “While I was in America to see my new baby, I suddenly realised that my Etisalat line was inactive. I couldn’t receive and make calls. I went to Etisalat office in Hilton to complain and to discover what the problem was. I was told someone asked the company to swap my line. I got very worried immediately and queried them.

    “How could someone’s line get swapped without the authorisation of the owner? Even as the owner of the line, I would issue an authorisation letter to effect that. I was worried because I personally registered the line and I told them I wanted to know the staff that granted the request but they refused. It was, however, rectified that very day by one Miss Joan and I was able to make use of the line again momentarily, for that day only. I later made several calls to the customer care and till now nothing has been done.

    “Due to their negligence, I have lost few jobs because that is the only line some clients could reach me on. Another painful aspect of it all is that the person broke into my credit card account and it was used in Rome and Milan. And as a matter of fact, I didn’t go to those places. I have to block the card because I have lost money.

    “The credit on the line was also transferred to the new line by the person who swapped it. There is a high level of impunity in this country and nobody cares. I’m crying out so that people can know how shameless and useless some brands can be. I will take this matter to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and National Human Rights Commission. I should be fully compensated because even till now, the problem has not been rectified.”

  • Dokubo-Asari arrested

    Dokubo-Asari arrested

    THE leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was arrested yesterday in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    A statement by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said Dokubo was picked up by the police between 1pm and 2pm around the Lubeleyi Roundabout and taken to an unknown destination.

    The wealthy former militant reportedly opened a private university in the Benin Republic, the King Amachree African University, which is preparing to start degree-awarding programmes next year.

    “We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries out a legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin Republic for many years now,” Keyamo said in his statement.

    “In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country. All these places have been searched as at this evening (yesterday evening) and nothing incriminating was found.”

     

    He suggested that Dokubo’s arrest and detention may be a ploy by “certain forces in Nigeria in unholy alliance with the Beninoise government” to keep his client away as 2015 approaches.

    “We call on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that no harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria,” he said.

    Dokubo has in recent times vowed that unless Mr. President Jonathan retains the presidency in 2015, Nigeria would break up.

    SaharaReporters, New York

    The leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, was today arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    A statement by his lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said Dokubo was picked up by the police between 1:00pm and 2:00pm around the Lubeleyi roundabout, and taken to an unknown destination.

    The wealthy former militant reportedly opened a private university in the Benin Republic, the King Amachree African University that is preparing to start degree-awarding programmes in 2014.

    “We want to emphasise that Alhaji Dokubo-Asari carries on legitimate business and has been living partly in Benin Republic for many years now,” Keyamo said in his statement.  “In fact, he owns houses, schools and an academy in that country. All these places have been searched as at this evening and nothing incriminating was found.”

    He suggested that Dokubo’s arrest and detention may be a ploy by “certain forces in Nigeria in unholy alliance with the Beninoise government” to keep his client away as 2015 approaches.

    “We call on the Nigerian government to immediately intervene and ensure that no harm befalls Alhaji Dokubo-Asari and to use all diplomatic means to secure his immediate release and safe return to Nigeria,” he said.

    Dokubo has in recent times vowed that unless Mr. President Jonathan retains the presidency in 2015, Nigeria would break up.

  • Court disqualifies prosecutor from Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Court disqualifies prosecutor from Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Tuesday disqualified Mr. Vitalis Ahaotu, the prosecutor in the trial of a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, who is charged for money laundering.

    The judge disqualified the prosecutor because he lacked the fiat (authority) of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to prosecute the case.

    Ahaotu is a counsel in the firm of Festus Keyamo and Co., and was prosecuting the case on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    The judge held that there was doubt as to whether the AGF had issued a fiat to the chambers of Keyamo to prosecute the case on its behalf.

    “There is no doubt that the AGF has the power to issue a fiat to any lawyer to prosecute a case on his behalf, but the prosecutor has shown no evidence of delegation in this respect.

    “The prosecutor claims it possesses the fiat of the AGF, when in fact it has not been exhibited before this honourable court.

    “I hold that Ahaotu cannot continue to represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this case,” the judge said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the court’s ruling followed the contention raised over whether the prosecution had the authority of the AGF to prosecute the former minister.

    Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), representing the defendant, had on June 6, challenged the appearance of the prosecutor in the case.

    Adedipe had argued that it was not clear whether Ahaotu was prosecuting on behalf of the Federal Government or the EFCC.

    Immediately after the ruling, another counsel from the firm of Keyamo, Mr. Alexander Opako, had urged the court to fix a trial date, to enable his principal – Keyamo – appear personally.

    The defence counsel, Mr. Wale Akoni (SAN), however, objected to this application.

    Akoni noted that since the court had ruled that the prosecution had no fiat, the charge becomes incompetent.