Fani-Kayode accuses FG of plotting to keep him locked up for 5years without trial
Wed Jun 29, 2016 07:39:am National
3.1K By Buchi Obichie
Former Minister of Aviation, and former Director of Publicity for the 2015 Presidential campaign of Goodluck Jonathan, Femi Fani-Kayode, has raised an alarm over alleged plans by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to keep him in custody for five years without trial.
Fani-Kayode who is still in custody of the EFCC, recently raised an alarm, alleging that he had been assaulted for praying, by an official of the anti-graft agency named Kabiru Suleiman.
The former Minister also claimed that Suleiman had been allowed to go scot-free without being reprimanded, after the alleged assault.
Spokesperson to Fani-Kayode, Jude Ndukwe, in a statement, claimed that the pardon given to the operative was in line with the plan of the commission to keep Fani-Kayode in custody until he is killed. Ndukwe further alleged that Fani-Kayode is being made to suffer for attacking Muhammadu Buhari, during the 2015 election campaign period. The statement read:
"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."
The former Aviation Minister was detained on May 9, after honouring an invitation by the EFCC to explain his role in an alleged looting of funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
After being detained in Abuja for two weeks without trial, Fani-Kayode was transported to Lagos allegedly for further investigation by the EFCC, where a warrant for his continued incarceration for another 3 weeks was obtained.
Fani-Kayode along with another former Minister, Nenadi Usman, and two others are facing a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law.
The accused persons appeared before Justice M.S Hassan on Tuesday, who ordered that they be remanded in prison, after they pled not guilty to the charges.
The case has been adjourned till July 1.
Fani-Kayode who is still in custody of the EFCC, recently raised an alarm, alleging that he had been assaulted for praying, by an official of the anti-graft agency named Kabiru Suleiman.
The former Minister also claimed that Suleiman had been allowed to go scot-free without being reprimanded, after the alleged assault.
Spokesperson to Fani-Kayode, Jude Ndukwe, in a statement, claimed that the pardon given to the operative was in line with the plan of the commission to keep Fani-Kayode in custody until he is killed. Ndukwe further alleged that Fani-Kayode is being made to suffer for attacking Muhammadu Buhari, during the 2015 election campaign period. The statement read:
"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."
The former Aviation Minister was detained on May 9, after honouring an invitation by the EFCC to explain his role in an alleged looting of funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
After being detained in Abuja for two weeks without trial, Fani-Kayode was transported to Lagos allegedly for further investigation by the EFCC, where a warrant for his continued incarceration for another 3 weeks was obtained.
Fani-Kayode along with another former Minister, Nenadi Usman, and two others are facing a 17-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, corruption and making cash payments exceeding the amount authorized by law.
The accused persons appeared before Justice M.S Hassan on Tuesday, who ordered that they be remanded in prison, after they pled not guilty to the charges.
The case has been adjourned till July 1.
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