A Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja, has struck
out a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by a former
Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, seeking an order releasing
him from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC.
The spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan 2015 Campaign Organisation
had filed the suit in response to his arrest by the anti-graft agency
on May 9, 2016 over allegation relating to diversion of funds meant for
arms procurement to political campaigns.
Just yesterday, the commission arraigned him alongside a former
Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, who was the Director of Finance of
the campaign organisation and others before a Federal High Court in
Lagos for money laundering.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday on the suit filed by Fani-Kayode to
challenge his detention by the EFCC, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that
the legal action lacked merit, adding that the detention was not
illegal since it was backed by an order of court.
The judge, however, faulted the practice by the anti-graft agency of
arresting and detaining a suspect for the purposes of investigation.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has cried out over the
alleged action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
to keep him in custody for five years without trial.
Jude Nduke, spokesperson to the former Minister, in a statement said,
"An inside source said a senior operative of the EFCC had told
Fani-Kayode to the hearing of those around that they would make sure he
is kept in custody "for another 5 years without trial."
"We will kill you and nothing would happen. He was said to have fumed without provocation."
"The source who does not want to be named because of the sensitive
nature of the matter further said it is only a miracle that could save
Femi Fani-Kayode from the wicked plans to have him remain in the
anti-graft agency's custody as long as possible, and probably have him
eliminated at a time when news about him would no longer be prominent in
the media."
"To confirm this, the source said Sulaiman Kabiru, the EFCC operative
who physically assaulted Femi Fani-Kayode over the weekend would not be
punished for his recalcitrant behavour towards a person in their
custody."
"The source further said he feared for Fani-Kayode's life if he is
continually detained without trial as EFCC operatives whose staff are
majorly Muslims and of the northern origin harbor some inexplicable
hatred for him for daring to criticize the policies and leadership style
of president Buhari who they consider as their own.
"The plan, according to our reliable sources, is for Fani-Kayode to be
"punished" for his comments on national issues rather than for
corruption as widely reported."
15:05:00
