Fani-Kayode reportedly faints in EFCC custody

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is said to have slumped on Saturday while in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The situation has led his Senior Assistant (SA) Media, Jude Ndukwe to raise an alarm on his safety in the hand of the commission which has chosen to have him detained in their custody since arresting him on Friday, October 21.

Ndukwe, who raised the alarm in a press statement he made available to Ripples Nigeria on Monday evening said, “But for the quick and professional intervention of the medical team in the EFCC medical facilities, the story could have been different, it could have been fatal.”

Part of the statement reads, “When Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was rearrested on Friday, October 21, in the premises of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, we raised a number of issues which included that the re-arrest was not only unnecessary but that it was also reckless.

“We made known our fears that Fani-Kayode’s life was in dire danger as long as he remained in EFCC custody or in the custody of any agency of the Federal Government based on discreet information available to us. This is apart from the fact that his health has been badly affected since his incarceration for a whopping 67 days based on some questionable ‘detention orders’. This fact is well known to the EFCC as Fani-Kayode’s lawyers have written several letters to the commission reminding them of the health conditions of the former Minister of Aviation.

“It is therefore shocking that having known these facts, the EFCC still acted in a most unprofessional and crude way by re-arresting a man who has never been known to turn down their invitation even for once, who was since granted administrative bail by the same commission after meeting the stringent conditions set by them; a man who is also supposed to be on bail as granted by the courts after fulfilling the conditions, and who even has his international passport still lodged with the commission.

Read also: Fani-Kayode: We’ve been told they want him killed, aide alleges

“One would have thought that these were enough to convince EFCC that Fani-Kayode was very willing to face his persecutors in court. But rather than be humane in their conduct, EFCC hounded him for the umpteenth time on that fateful Friday and have since kept him in custody.

“It is therefore little wonder that based on the history of his medical conditions which the commission is very much aware of, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode slumped while in detention on Saturday, 22nd of October, 2016. But for the quick and professional intervention of the medical team in the EFCC medical facilities, the story could have been different, it could have been fatal!

“From the foregoing, it is obvious that this issue about corruption is nothing but an already exposed façade for the silencing of opposition voices, and keep Fani-Kayode out of circulation as long as practicable since he is seen by many as one of the strongest voices against tyranny, oppression and executive lawlessness.”

He therefore called on the commission to ensure that nothing untoward happens to Chief Fani-Kayode whether now or in the nearest future, adding that should anything happen to him, “we can assure those responsible that there would be reactions of unimaginable propensity.”

By Ebere Ndukwu …

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

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