The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
MP DENIES CHARGE AT THE OLD BAILEY
Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya will stand trial at the Old Bailey after pleading not guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Ms Onasanya (34) appeared in the dock alongside her brother, Festus Onasanya (33) at the famous London court on Monday.
Labour MP Ms Onasanya, of Paston, Peterborough, is jointly charged with one count of perverting the course of justice with her brother, while Mr Onasanya, from Chesterton, Cambridge, faces two further counts.
The charge the pair jointly face relates to an allegation they falsely claimed the driver of a vehicle caught speeding on the 24 July last year was another man.
The two further charges, relating to similar allegations, Mr Onasanya faces are said to have happened on June 17 and August 23, 2017.
All the incidents are said to have taken place in Cambridgeshire.
Both defendants arrived separately at court for the hearing, and a large press pack including photographers and TV cameras were waiting for the MP as she arrived.
Ms Onasanya wore a dark suit and sunglasses, while her brother wore a green jacket and jeans.
Ms Onasanya made no comment as she entered or left court to the waiting media.
In the dock, she spoke only to confirm her name and not guilty plea.
Mr Onasanya also entered not guilty pleas to all the counts he faces.
The siblings chatted in the dock before the hearing started, and both listened intently to directions made by The Recorder of London Nicholas Hilliard QC.
A trial date was set for Monday, November 12 at the Old Bailey, while a pre-trial review will take place on October 26.
Both defendants were granted unconditional bail by the judge.
The allegations against Ms Onasanya and her brother came to light at the end of last month - two weeks after she first appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing relating to the case.
Ms Onasanya was elected as Peterborough MP in June 2017, winning the seat by 607 votes from Conservative Stewart Jackson.
Last month on Twitter she said: “I will be robustly defending all these allegations, and strongly refute any suggestions that I have broken the law.”
She also thanked residents who had sent her messages of support.
The Labour Party have not commented on the case.
‘I strongly refute any suggestions I have broken the law’
Fiona Onasanya Peterborough MP