A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday refused to stay further proceedings in the suit filed by the EFCC against a former Minister of Aviation,? Femi Fani-Kayode.
The 47-count charge levelled against Fani-Kayode by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission border on money laundering.
Fani-Kayode was re-arraigned on Feb. 16 and was accused of laundering more than N500 million and accepting and concealing cash payments of about N230 million.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, counsel to the accused, Mr Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to adjourn the matter indefinitely to enable the Supreme Court make a pronouncement on their application.
He told the court that his client had challenged the Court of Appeal’s decision allowing the use of computer printouts as evidence in his case.
Uche told the court that the Apex court had sent out hearing notices to those involved in the matter and all the processes at the Supreme Court had been filed before the Federal High Court.
Prosecution counsel, Mr Nelson Okedinachi, however, opposed the application for indefinite adjournment on the grounds that the re-assignment of the case had rendered the interlocutory appeal at the Supreme Court an academic exercise.
He argued that since the accused person was re-arraigned before a new judge, the matter at the Supreme Court would not affect it as there were new facts in the matter that the computer printout might not be needed.
According to Okedinachi, the EFCC’s Act does not allow for stay of proceedings.
He stated that the accused person should be asking for an accelerated hearing, instead of a stay of further proceedings.
Justice Binta Nyako, however, held that she would not stay further proceedings as the appeal had to do with the admissibility of a document.
She consequently adjourned the case till Oct. 10 for trial. (NAN)