Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-kayode, on Thursday, challenged the propriety of Festus Keyamo’s chambers to prosecute the N230 million corruption case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fani-Kayode is standing trial on a 47-count charge before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The much-anticipated trial could not continue as scheduled because Keyamo was said to have assigned a team of lawyers from his chambers to represent him.
The team of lawyers was led by Vitalis Ahaotu.
Counsel to the accused, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) had challenged the legality of Keyamo’s chambers to appear in court.
Adedipe argued that Keyamo had no legal authority to delegate his law firm to practice on his behalf.
He cited Section 24 of the Legal Practitioner’s Act, a 2007 Supreme Court decision in the case of Okafor vs Nweke, to back his argument.
“I object to the appearance of the chambers of Festus Keyamo by his team of lawyers to prosecute this case.
“Keyamo is not authorised under the Legal Practitioner’s Act to assign his chambers to practise,” Adedipe said.
But Ahaotu, in response, urged the court to disregard the submission of the counsel to the accused, arguing that the counsel should have filed such submission so that they could give their reply.
Trial judge, Justice Rita Ofilli-Ajumogobia, consequently, adjourned the case till November 27 for further mention and told the accused counsel to file his application within two days.
The EFCC had, on February 11, re-arraigned Fani-Kayode over alleged money laundering and financial impropriety to the tune of N230 million.
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