The trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, continued on Friday at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, as the second prosecution witness narrated how the ex-minister bribed her to procure forged medical reports for him.
The witness, Abidat Bukola, who appeared before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, told the court how Fani-Kayode gave her N820,000 to procure four forged medical reports.
Bukola, who introduced herself as a media practitioner, said Fani-Kayode paid her in tranches of N120,000, N150,000, N250,000 and N300,000 for the forged medical reports.
The witness also disclosed that Fani-Kayode dictated what the content of the medical reports should be.
According to the witness, her Samsung phone was used to communicate with Fani-Kayode while the phone is currently with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC had brought Fani-Kayode before the court on a 12-count charge of alleged procurement of a ‘fabricated’ medical report and use of the false document.
EFCC also accused the ex-minister of procuring Dr Ogieva Oziegbe to issue the fake medical report, which he allegedly tendered before the Federal High Court where he was standing trial for money laundering before Justice Daniel Osiagor.
But when the charge was read to Fani-Kayode, he pleaded not guilty to the offence, prompting commencement of his trial.
Justice Abike-Fadipe later adjourned the matter till April 8 to enable the prosecution present and tender the phone in evidence and continuation of trial.
The first prosecution witness, Bassey Amah, had earlier concluded his testimony under cross-examination from the lead defence lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN).
Through the witness, Quakers had tendered a Certified True Copy of his hospital’s identity card, which was admitted as Exhibit P2.
During the cross-examination, Quakers noted that on the said ID card, the witness was identified as Assistant Chief Medical Record Officer whereas he told the Court that he was the head of the hospital’s Medical Record Unit.
But the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, during re-examination, clarified that what was on the ID card was his rank, adding that by designation, he was the Head of the Medical Record Unit.
