On Tuesday, the Federal High Court mandated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) receive copies of all proceedings and documents related to the money laundering trial of former Minister of State for Finance Nenadi Usman and others.
Following an appellate court's ruling, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), requested before Justice Daniel Osiagor the release of all documentary evidence or processes in the case.
Usman is charged alongside Yusuf Danjuma, a former chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation. A business named Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd. is also accused.
The EFCC had filed a 17-count complaint against them before Justice Mohammed Aikawa, a former judge, alleging the laundering of 4.6 billion dollars.
Each defendant had entered a 'not guilty' plea to the charges, and bail had been set.
Before Justice Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division, the trial had already started and witnesses were still being called.
They were subsequently re-arrested on January 24, 2022, and the charge was given to a new judge, Justice Osaigor.
Again, the trial for the case had already started, and witnesses were still testifying before the court
However, the court of appeal decided in favor of the defendant following an appeal Usman filed, asking for a transfer of the case on jurisdictional grounds.
On Tuesday, when the case was called, Oyedepo announced the prosecution's appearance, informed the court of the appellate court's ruling, and ordered that the case be sent to the Abuja division of the court.
Additionally, he told the court that the prosecution's case was still pending and that PW 1 was still testifying, so the prosecution was still the one providing evidence.
So as to avoid delays and save time, he requested an application for the prosecution to receive access to all documentary evidence and exhibits in the case.
Justice Osiagor issued a succinct ruling, holding that all documentary evidence and exhibits should be made available to the prosecution in accordance with the appellate court's ruling.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly committed the offenses in Lagos between January and March of 2015.
They were accused of illegally keeping more than 4.6 billion at various points in time, money they knew or should have known was proceeds of theft and corruption.
In contrast, counts 15 to 17 allege that Fani-Kayode and a person named Olubode Oke, who is known to be at large, made cash payments totaling about $30 million that were in excess of the legal limit and made without using a financial institution.
The aforementioned payments are alleged to have exceeded the legal limits and were made to Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No. 125 Lewis St., Lagos.
The Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act of 2012's sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) were violated by each offense.