EFCC threatens Fani-Kayode, spokesman raises alarm

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode at the office of at the EFCC on May 9

EFCC has plans to keep Fani-Kayode detained without trial for up to three months, Jude Ndukwe, his spokesperson said

Ndukwe said the EFCC operative who allegedly assaulted Fani-Kayode would go unpunished for his recalcitrant behavour

He added that Fani-Kayode was being prosecuted for his comments on national issues rather than for corruption

Femi Fani-Kayode’s spokesman, Jude Ndukwe, has said the operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who allegedly assaulted him (Fani-Kayode) in custody will not be punished.

He said the pardon given to the operative is in line with the plan of the anti-graft agency to keep Fani-Kayode in custody for as long as possible until he is killed.

A statement released by Ndukwe claimed that the EFCC had concluded plans keep the Fani-Kayode in custody without trial for up to, at least, another three months, Ynaija reports.

“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.

“Although the date for arraignment has been fixed for Tuesday, June 28, our investigations revealed that EFCC has no intention whatsoever to take the Ife-born chief to court, a situation that would force the court to adjourn for a long time. And with the three-month recess for judges around the corner, precisely starting on July 11, it is the plan of EFCC that Fani-Kayode would remain in custody till the judges resume sometime in October,” the statement read.

Report earlier surfaced that an EFCC operative identified as Kabiru Suleiman allegedly assaulted Fani-Kayode for praying while in custody of the agency.

An anonymous source claimed that 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.

According to Ndukwe, an inside source alleged that 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 EFCC operative was quoted to have said.

Ndukwe explained that the source said he feared for Fani-Kayode’s life as only a miracle could save him from the wicked plans to have him detained as long as possible, and probably have him eliminated at a time when news about him would no longer be prominent in the media.

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, Nenadi Usman and two others are facing a 17-count charge of corruption allegation before a federal court in Lagos.

His arraignment has been stalled on two different occasions due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Hassan, an act which his family has said is an attempt by the commission to prolong his detention.