Justice Muslim Sule Hassan of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday rejected the plea of the counsel to Femi Fani-Kayode, former spokesman for the Goodluck Jonathan campaign organization in the 2015 presidential election and former Minister of Aviation, to discuss some ‘sensitive’ matters with him in confidence.
Mr. Norrison Quaker, who introduced himself as the new counsel to Mr. Fani-Kayode, made the plea for him and the prosecutor to meet with the judge privately in the court’s chamber because of the nature of the matter in the application he intended to file, and to protect the court from any eventual embarrassment that might arise from the application.
He said it was the duty of lawyers to protect the sanctity of the court, and also within the law for judge to hear a matter in chamber, adding that the matter that would be discussed would help the court determine the progress of the case.
Mr. Quaker, who said he was only briefed on Sunday, also asked the court to adjourn the trial to allow him study the case.
The lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nkeruwe Anana, opposed the two motions, stating that he would not be a party to any meeting with the counsel to the 2nd defendant outside the confines of the court room. Mr. Anana urged the court to disregard the first motion for the purpose of transparency.
“If the counsels meet in the chamber, it will look as though there is something we are hiding,” he said. “Everything should be made in the open for the sake of transparency.”
And in opposing the motion for adjournment, Mr. Anana said the learned senior advocate could not seek an adjournment on the grounds that he needed to study the case, supporting his argument with the provisions of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which provides for the expedition of a criminal matter.
Counsel to Senator Nenadi Usman, former finance minister and commissioner in Kaduna State, and Danjuma Yusuf, who are 1st and 3rd defendants in the criminal trial, aligned with the submissions of senior advocate.
In a short ruling, the judge rejected the plea for a meeting in his chambers. He told the counsel to file his application, stating that the court cannot be embarrassed for whatever reason.
“Don’t worry, the court cannot be embarrassed,” the judge joked after his ruling. “Our training here has taught us to have a very strong shock absorber.”
Mr. Fani-Kayode, Mr. Usman and Mr. Danguma are facing a 17-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering, which are criminal offenses with two to fourteen years imprisonment as possible punishment.
Femi Fani-Kayode with his bodyguards at the court premises in Lagos
BY SAHARA REPORTERS
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