Fani-Kayode Gets Tough Bail...May spend new Year In Jail

Former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode  was this morning granted bail by the federal high court sitting in Lagos in the sum of N200 million with two sureties. However, he may spend the New Year day in jail if he fails to meet the tough bail conditions.

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One of the sureties must be a landed property owner in Ikoyi or Lekki, a highbrow area of Lagos State. The second surety must not be below the level of a director in the federal civil service.

For the accused former aviation minister to regain his freedom, the presiding judge, Ramat Ahmed Muhammed, also gave other conditions which include: that the accused must not travel out of the country; that he must also submit his two recent passports to the court registrar.

The two sureties willing to stand for him must also swear to affidavit of means while all documents must be verified by the court registrar.

While granting the bail, Justice Muhammed said it is trite in law that any applicant seeking for bail must provide material evidence before the court. And in this case, the supporting affidavit of the applicant showed that he was once granted bail by an Abuja Magistrate’s court and he did not jump bail.

This was not controverted by the respondent. The court also said that EFCC itself once granted him bail and he did not jump bail. EFCC did not deny this.

“Therefore there is no reason for him to jump bail now. It is very difficult to subscribe to the argument of the respondent that he will jump bail,” said the judge.

The court also said that Keyamo once told the court that he is ready to commence trial immediately. So at this stage, the accused is presumed innocent and the purpose of granting him bail is to allow him to attend trial.

The court also observed that the offences are serious and weighty, but none of them is a capital offence. Consequently, Justice Muhammed adjourned till  28 January, 2009 for trial to commence.

Fani-Kayode was first picked up by operatives of the EFCC on 30 June, 2008 and arraigned before the court on 47-count of money laundering and his alleged role in the N19.5 billion aviation intervention fund. He was also alleged to have laundered about N300 million through his associates, his wife and daughter and some of his administrative staff.