Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos has recused himself from the trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and three others over an alleged N4.6billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on June 28, 2016 arraigned Fani-Kayode; former Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Esther Nnenadi Usman; one, Danjuma Yusuf and a company, John Trust Dimensions Nigeria Limited on a 17-count charge of alleged N4.6billion fraud.
Fani-Kayode had, however, in an application through his lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN) asked the judge to recuse himself from the matter on the ground of alleged bias.
The former Minister and his co-accused are also seeking for the transfer of the case to the Abuja Division of the court.
In a ruling on the matter Thursday, Justice Hassan, while yielding to Fani-Kayode’s request asking him to withdraw from the matter, said he will transfer the case file to the Chief Judge of the court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge.
According to the judge, even though no evidence has been placed before the court by Fani-Kayode to buttress his claim of bias, he will ‘hands off’ the case in the interest of justice.
More details later…
