Crime
Alleged Forgery: Court Frees Fani-Kayode, Says He Has No Case To Answer
The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has acquitted and discharged a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of the charge of medical forgery levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe who freed the former minister while delivering ruling on the no case submission filed by his counsel held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
The court upheld the no case-submission filed by his counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN) and ruled that Fani-Kayode had no case to answer as the EFCC did not link him to the offence.
In her ruling, Justice Abike Fadipe said that the prosecution failed to present the defendant’s associates who collected money from him or the lawyer who claimed that the defendant had instructed his law firm to take the medical reports to the Federal High Court.
The judge said: “The extrajudicial statements which remain, and which are intended as evidence, cannot be used for any purpose other than to contradict the person who made the statement when he is in the witness box.
“I have carefully studied the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and I cannot find where the defendant committed the offences being alleged.“
The prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case which would require the defendant to open his defence.
”The judge consequently acquitted and discharged the defendant on the alleged offences.
Speaking to journalist after his discharge, Fani-Kayode expressed gratitude and relief on the verdict, stating that he has been in and out of court for the past 18 years and he feels overjoyed that he is finally free.
Before the court, Fani-Kayode was facing 12 a count charge brought against him by the EFCC following his alleged use of forged medical report(s), which he tendered before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was being prosecuted by the EFCC for an alleged N4.9billion fraud.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 11th day of October, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by fraudulently used a false document titled: Medical Report on Olufemi Fani-Kayode 60 Years/Male/Hosp.
No. 00345 DATED 11/10/2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.
”Another count reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 23rd day of March, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently used a false document titled: To Whom It May Concern Re: Femi Fani-Kayode Male/60 Years Hospital.
No. 32145 Dated 23rd March 2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”
The EFCC noted that procuring and execution of documents by false pretence is contrary to section 369 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
During the trial, the management of Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja had denied admitting Femi Fani-Kayode as one of its patients.
Through its head of medical records, Bassey Amah, the hospital management told Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe that a medical report presented in court by the former minister was not issued by the hospital.
Amah who testified before the court as first prosecution witness in the case said that Fani-Kayode is not a patient and has no medical report in the hospital.
A second prosecution witness, Abidat Bukola told the court how the former Minister of Aviation, allegedly gave her N820,000 to procure 4 forged medical reports.
The witness testified that Fani-Kayode at different times paid her the sums of N120,000, N150,000, N250,000 and N300,000 for the forged medical reports.
She also claimed that the former minister dictated what the content of the medical reports should be.
The former minister, however, denied the allegations.
In December 2024, he filed a no case submission and urged the court to acquit him while submitting that the prosecution had failed to establish the charge against him.
as Kidnappers Demand Release of Gang Membersetired Major General Rabe Abubakar has died while in captivity after being abducted by kidnappers, the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security has announced.
The retired senior officer passed away from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while being held alongside his wife, Amina Abubakar.
The couple was kidnapped within Matazu Local Government Area while travelling to Katsina.
A video recently circulated online showed the retired army general nursing a wound on his left foot during his time in captivity.
Reports indicate that the mastermind of the abduction demanded the release of three members of his gang, as well as some cattle, as conditions for freeing the couple.
The tragic development comes amid ongoing security challenges in parts of the North-West region.
Suspected bandits have killed 19 people and injured 12 others in a fresh attack on Gora Namaye district in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
According to Bello Hussaini, the councilor representing the Faru/Magami ward, the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles in large numbers and opened sporadic fire on residents, mostly farmers.
Hussaini said the bandits initially killed 18 people during the assault. One of the injured victims later succumbed to injuries, bringing the death toll to 19.
Efforts to get confirmation from the Zamfara State Police Command proved unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that an unauthorised incursion by Cameroonian Armed Forces personnel into Danare Community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State is now fully under control.
According to a statement issued by the 82 Division Nigerian Army, troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Danare swiftly responded on June 9, 2026, after reports of the foreign military presence reached them. The Nigerian forces immediately contacted their Cameroonian counterparts, leading to the peaceful withdrawal of the Cameroonian troops from Nigerian territory in line with established border protocols. The situation was contained without any escalation or confrontation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident stemmed from a dispute over the collection of levies on farmland situated between Danare Community in Nigeria and Dadi Community in Cameroon.
In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations and prevent recurrence, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division has directed the Commander of 13 Brigade to engage his Cameroonian counterpart. The planned visit aims to enhance border coordination, clarify operational procedures, and build confidence between the two militaries.
The Division reassured residents of Danare and surrounding areas that the situation is calm and under full control, with troops maintaining heightened vigilance along the border.
“Residents of Danare and adjoining areas are reassured that the situation is calm and fully under control,” the statement added.
The Army urged members of the public to remain calm, go about their lawful activities, and avoid spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary tension in the area.
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