Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday picked up former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, on the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Fani-Kayode was stopped by three EFCC operatives at about 1:55pm just as he stepped out of Justice Muslim Sule Hassan’s court where he and four others were on trial on a N4.9 billion money laundering charge levelled against them by the commission.
Operatives, one dressed in white kaftan and the others in black suits, asked him to follow them to the commission’s office, but allowed him to speak to the press.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arrested me on a matter touching on, I believe, a case in Abuja which we have already acknowledged the fact that the matter is for November 10 and my lawyers have appeared in court.
“My lawyers have undertaken to produce me in court. They have written a letter which has been acknowledged by the EFCC, saying I’ll be in Abuja to answer to those charges on November 10.
“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 said.
He was then led to a white Toyota Hiace bus which had barricaded the court’s gate and driven away.
Earlier, the EFCC opened its case against the former Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Fani-Kayode is standing trial alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf, as well as a firm, Joint Trust Dimension Nig. Ltd.
They were arraigned on June 28 on a 17-count charge bordering on unlawful retention, unlawful use and unlawful payment of money in the tune of about N4.9 billion.
They each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.
Prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo called his first witness, Mr Idowu Olusegun, a media consultant with Paste Posters Company (PPC).
Olusegun testified during evidence-in-chief that he was paid N30million in cash by the PDP Campaign Organisation for media consultancy services worth N54 million during the entire period of the electioneering.
Witness said his company got the contract via a proposal letter it wrote on January 28, 2015 to the campaign organisation whose address is at 14B, Samora Michael Avenue, Asokoro, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The negotiations, his firm printed A2 sized campaign posters at N50 per unit and A4 sized campaign fliers at N20 per unit after which he was invited to the organisation’s office in Abuja and given N30 million in cash.
He told the court that he had demanded to know why payment was made in cash and was informed by one Mr Oke that cash was the approved means of payment.
Witness testified further that Mr Oke had been the person communicating with him throughout the pendency of his engagement to do the media jobs, but that he assumed that Mr Oke acted on behalf of second defendant, Fani-Kayode.
Olusegun added that a balance of N24 million was not paid to his company, and after his testimony, the court adjourned till November 14 and 15 for continuation of trial.
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