EFCC GIVES REASONS FOR CONTINUED DETENTION OF FANI-KAYODE

Counsel to Chief Fani-Kayode, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) Thursday, June 2 told an Abuja high court sitting in Apo, that the EFCC asked his client to produce $1million to secure his bail which he has not be able to meet.
Adedipe made the revelation during the hearing on the violation of Fani-Kayode’s fundamental rights suit filed against the EFCC. He told the presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi that Fani-Kayode was offered bail by the EFCC under stringent conditions, and he has only been able to meet some part of the bail conditions.

He stated that the former minister’s continued detention is unconstitutional because he is being detained by the anti-graft body without being charged to court for financial crimes. Adedipe confirmed that the EFCC gave its reasons for detaining Fani-Kayode was because he was being investigated in connection to a company called Joint Trust Dimension through which over N800m was allegedly transferred to the account of the former minister.

His words: “The constitution anticipates that a man maybe arrested but not necessarily arraigned as provided in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). “The applicant (Fani-Kayode) has never said he did not receive the money (N800m) in question. He was the director of publicity for the Presidential Campaign Organisation of the former president Goodluck Jonathan who paid him the money.”

In his response to Adedipe’s submission, counsel to the EFCC, Salisu Majidadi,told Justice Adeniyi that a remand order from a Magistrate Court in Lagos has been attached to a better and further affidavit and written address put forward before the court which they would rely on. He said: “Bearing in mind the constitutional requirement of remanding the applicant, a remand order was acquired from a Magistrate Court on May 10 in Lagos which is attached to the affidavit.”

Justice Olukayode, after hearing the arguments and submissions of the both counsels, Justice Adeniyi adjourned the case till Wednesday, June 29,or judgment in the case. Meanwhile, the wife of Fani-Kayode, Precious Chikwendu has expressed her confidence that her husband will pull through his ordeal in the hands of the EFCC.

According to Chikwendu, the travails faced by the Fani-Kayode can only be handled by brave people, even as she expressed hope that the former minister will be vindicated.