LAGOS – A Special Offences Court in Ikeja has discharged and acquitted former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of charges of medical forgery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a ruling, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe upheld a no-case submission filed by Fani-Kayode’s counsel, Wale Balogun (SAN), ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.
The judge noted that the EFCC did not provide sufficient evidence linking the defendant to the alleged offences, including the procurement and use of false documents.
The prosecution had alleged that Fani-Kayode falsified medical reports to delay court proceedings in another case.
However, the court found that key witnesses including alleged intermediaries who handled the documents were not presented, weakening the prosecution’s case.
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“The evidence provided by the prosecution failed to establish a direct connection between the defendant and the offences charged,” Abike-Fadipe ruled.
“As a result, there is no basis for the defendant to enter a defense.”
The EFCC had initially charged Fani-Kayode with 12 counts, including forgery and fabrication of evidence, but the court ruled that the prosecution’s witnesses and documents were insufficient to sustain the allegations.
This is the second legal victory for Fani-Kayode in recent weeks. On January 15, a Federal High Court in Abuja also discharged him of a three-count money laundering charge after Justice John Tsoho ruled that the EFCC had failed to provide credible evidence.
Fani-Kayode had maintained his innocence throughout both trials, describing the charges as unfounded.
