The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday cleared former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, of medical forgery charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In her ruling on the no-case submission made by Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Norrison Quakers,
Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe declared that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case, leaving the former minister with no case to answer.
According to Channels TV, the court concluded that the EFCC was unable to link Fani-Kayode to the offence, marking the end of the forgery case against him.
Justice Abike-Fadipe emphasized that the prosecution did not present crucial witnesses, including the defendant’s alleged associates who collected money from him or the lawyer who supposedly received instructions from Fani-Kayode to submit the medical reports to the Federal High Court.
He 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.”
As a result, the judge acquitted and discharged Fani-Kayode.
Speaking after the verdict, Fani-Kayode expressed his relief and gratitude, stating, “I have been in and out of court for the past 18 years and I feel overjoyed that I am finally free.”
The former minister was initially charged with 12 counts related to his alleged submission of forged medical reports before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, where he was being tried for an alleged N4.9 billion fraud.
One of the charges read, “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 charge read, “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.”
During the trial, Kubwa General Hospital’s management in Abuja refuted claims that Fani-Kayode was ever a patient there.
The hospital’s head of medical records, Bassey Amah, testified as the first prosecution witness, stating that the medical report presented by Fani-Kayode did not originate from the hospital.
A second prosecution witness, Abidat Bukola, alleged that the former minister paid her N820,000 to procure four forged medical reports at different times, dictating the contents of the reports himself.
Despite these allegations, Fani-Kayode denied any wrongdoing. In December 2024, he filed a no-case submission, urging the court to dismiss the charges, which the court eventually granted.
