By Lukman Olabiyi, Lagos
Two former ministers and chieftains of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Femi Fani-Kayode and Senator Nenadi Usman were yesterday docked before Justice Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos and remanded in prison pending, the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
Usman was former Minister For Finance and Director of Finance of the PDP Presidential Campaign in 2015, while Fani-Kayode was Minister for Aviation and spokesperson for the campaign organisation.
Also charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are Danjuman Yussuf, Olubode Oke and Join Trust Dimensions Nigeria Limited.
The 17 count-charge borders on unlawful retention, use and payment of about N4.9 billion.
The accused allegedly committed the offences between January and March 2015.
Fani-Kayode was named in all 17-count and Usman in only four of the charges.
In counts one to seven, they were alleged to have unlawfully retained over N3.8 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.
In counts Eight to 14, the accused were alleged to have unlawfully used over N970 million which they reasonbly ought to have known formed part of an unlawful act of corruption.
In counts 15 to17, Fani-Kayode together with Oke, said to be at large, allegedly made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.
Besides, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have made payments to a certain company in excess of amounts allowed by law.
All offences were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
After listening to the two parties, Justice Hassan, adjourned till Friday July 1, saying it would be in the interest of justice to give the prosecutor time to respond to all the bail applications.
North East: UN releases N3.7bn for IDPs
The United Nations humanitarian chief, Mr Stephen O’Brien has released about N3.7billion ($13million) as life-saving support to the 250,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East of Nigeria.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs who announced this in a statement said the money was released by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
“The destruction of crops and looting of livestock have left many people unable to support their families.
“More than 50,000 people need seeds and tools for the upcoming planting season. Women, girls, men and boys have suffered or witnessed terrible abuses.
“CERF funds will enable humanitarian partners to provide critical psycho- social support and protection services. CERF funding will help them to rebuild their livelihoods,’’ it said.
According to the statement, the Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria was revised upwards by N14.3billion ($51 million) this month, and currently needs N78.4billion (about $279 million).
The statement added that the IDPs had suffered so much from the activities of Boko Haram in the North East and needed to be supported for survival.