Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been discharged and acquitted of forgery charge levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had on November 11, 2021, arraigned Fani-Kayode on a 12 counts charge bordering on the allegation of procuring and execution of documents by false pretenses, use of false documents, fabrication of evidence, and use of fabricated evidence.

However, Fani-Kayode was discharged on Monday following a ruling delivered by Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos.

This followed a no case submission he filed on December 7, 2024, saying the EFCC couldn't establish any case against him.

This was acknowledged by the judge who said the complainant failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendant, neither could it link him to the offences in the charges.

"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," the judge said.

"I have carefully studied the evidences of the prosecution witnesses and I can not 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 defense."

On the issue of cost, the court held that "the defendant is at liberty to file an action report and do so in private."

The judge therefore discharged and acquitted him of the alleged offences.