The trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode continued last Friday at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, with the second prosecution witness narrating how the accused bribed her to procure forged medical reports for him.
The witness, Abidat Bukola who appeared before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on Friday, 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 the former Minister paid her in tranches of N120,000, N150,000, N250,000 and N300,000 for the forged medical reports.
The witness said Fani-Kayode dictated what the content of the medical reports should be.
She said her Samsung phone was used to communicate with the defendant and the phone is currently with the EFCC.
Fani-Kayode had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the court on a 12-count charge of procurement of a ‘fabricated’ medical report and use of the false document.
Specifically, the EFCC had accused the former minister of procuring one 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.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting commencement of his trial.
Justice Abike-Fadipe has adjourned the matter till April 8 to enable the prosecution present and tender the phone in evidence and continuation of trial.
Earlier, Bassey Amah, the first prosecution witness, had concluded his testimony under cross-examination from the lead defence counsel, 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 lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, during reexamination clarified that what was on the ID card was his rank adding that by designation, he was the Head of the Medical Record Unit.