An Abuja high court has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by Femi Fani-Kayode, challenging his prolonged detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fani Kayode (middle) with security and EFCC operatives during a court appearance
Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode who is facing a 17-count charge of money laundering alongside a former finance minister, Nenadi Usman, and Danjuma Yusuf, has been slammed by Justice Adeboyega Adeniyi, in his ruling on Wednesday, saying that the EFCC was constitutionally right to have detained him since May.
The reply by the court judge came as the PDP chieftain approached the court on June 2, to complain about his continued detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Adeniyi said the detention of Fani-Kayode was in line with the EFCC act, adding that the remand order obtained from a Lagos Magistrate Court was within the provisions of chapter 4 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
He further said the decision of the EFCC to obtain a second remand order, before the expiration of the first, was a right decision.
Recall that the former Aviation Minister was detained on May 6 on the allegation that N840 million had been paid into his account on the eve of the 2015 general elections.
The money is suspected to be part of the $2.1billion allegedly misappropriated by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.