Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has been acquitted and discharged of the charge of medical forgery leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, freed the former minister on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, following a ruling on the no-case submission filed by his counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN). Justice Abike-Fadipe ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Fani-Kayode.
The judge emphasized that the extrajudicial statements, which were intended as evidence, could only be used to contradict the person who made the statement when they testify. She noted that after carefully reviewing the prosecution's evidence, she could not find any evidence to substantiate the charges against him.
In light of this, the court acquitted and discharged Fani-Kayode of all charges.
After his release, Fani-Kayode expressed his joy, saying he was overjoyed to finally be free after enduring 18 years of repeated court battles. The EFCC had initially charged him with a 12-count accusation, claiming he used forged medical reports to mislead the court. The fraud was tied to an alleged N4.9 billion scandal.
The EFCC had alleged that Fani-Kayode submitted false medical reports dated October 11, 2021, from Kubwa General Hospital to Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos. However, the hospital management denied having treated Fani-Kayode or issuing the medical report in question.
