Fani-KayodeThe former Minister of Aviation,
Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, says he will not be intimidated by efforts to silence him
after he was re-arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC).
Mr. Fani-Kayode was arrested on Friday by
operatives of the anti-graft agency, as he left the Federal High Court premises
in Lagos.
Speaking to newsmen while being taken away,
he said: “They will not take my life, I am not scared, I’m not intimidated
(and) I will not be silenced.
“I am very proud of the fact that the
Nigerian people are beginning to understand what is going on in this country.
“They can re-arrest me a thousand times,
torture me, lock me up, beat me, deprive me of food and my phones; they can do
anything to me, I will never change.”
Fani-Kayode,
EFCC Arrests
Fani-Kayode’s arrest is connected to the
latest 17-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N4.9 billion filed by
the EFCC in Abuja against him.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on
Wednesday fixed a new date for the trial of Mr. Fani-Kayode and Nenadi Usman,
who were accused of money laundering by the EFCC.
EFCC
Invites Fani-Kayode
On May 9, 2016, the former Aviation
Minister, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode honoured the invitation of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He arrived at the headquarters of the
anti-graft agency in Abuja in a police convoy.
The EFCC operatives had laid a siege to Mr
Fani-Kayode’s residence but later withdrew after almost six hours.
Officers of the EFCC had visited his
Maitama home inviting him for questioning on May 9, only to return at midday
with armed men, seeking his arrest.
Mr Fani-Kayode said he was surprised at the
turn of events after he had promised to show up with his lawyer.
He was the Director of Publicity for former
President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP’s campaign Organisation before the general
election of 2015.
Mr
Fani-Kayode Released
On July 15, 2016, Mr Fani-Kayode was
released from EFCC custody after meeting his bail conditions.
He was released after over two months in
detention.
The former Aviation Minister, shortly after
his release told Channels Television, “I give thanks to God that I am free
after 67 days in detention.
“This was the worst experience of my life
but God was with me all the way. I suffered immeasurably but I count it all as
joy.
“I am innocent of all charges and I look
forward to defending myself vigorously in court. These charges are politically
motivated and I have been severely punished for my political views and
criticisms of the government.”
Mr Fani-Kayode was arrested by the
anti-graft agency over alleged 1.5 billion Naira fraud and has been charged
alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman; a firm, Joint Trust
Dimensions Limited; and one Jimoh Yusuf.
The Federal High Court in Lagos granted
bail in the sum of 250 million Naira each, to Mr Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman and
Danjuma Yusuf who are being tried by the EFCC for allegedly stealing and
laundering about 4.9 billion Naira.
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