Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, justice of the federal high court sitting in Lagos state, on Wednesday, discharged and acquitted Femi Fani-Kayode of money laundering.
Ajumogobia had on June 18 deferred judgment in the case of the former minister of aviation to July 1.
She had told the court then that she could not deliver judgment in the case, as earlier scheduled, owing to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, in court.
“It is proper for the entire parties to be around for the judgment, I feel this is the right thing to do… it is better to have everyone present for the judgment,” she had said.
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Addressing journalists after the ruling, Fani-Kayode commended the judiciary “for refusing to be intimidated by anyone”.
“I wish to thank the Nigerian judiciary for dispensing justice in an honest and God-fearing way and for refusing to be intimidated by anyone or guided by anything other than the evidence presented before them in this case,” he said.
“I thank them for refusing to send an innocent man to jail and for refusing to allow themselves to be used as tools for personal and vindictive vendettas or political persecution.”
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Fani- Kayode faced trial on a two- count charge bordering on money laundering.
His trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed of the same court.
He was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of laundering about N100 million while he was the minister of culture and tourism and later, the minister of aviation.
On November 17, 2014, the succeeding judge, Ofili-Ajumogobia dismissed 38 of the 40 counts levelled against him.
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