Illegal detention: Court refuses Fani-Kayode’s application

An FCT High Court yesterday refused the application by former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode challenging his arrest and detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, in a judgement, held that the arrest and detention of Kayode was not a violation of his fundamental right because it was within the statutory powers of the EFCC.
The judge said the applicant’s detention was on the remand of a court, renewable after 14 days, as provided in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
He therefore dismissed the suit for lack of merit.
Fani-Kayode was arrested on May 10 over alleged diversion of the sum of N800 million public funds as Director of Media and Publicity for the Jonathan/Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2015.
He was transferred to Lagos where he was further detained on the orders of a court before being arraigned on a 17-count charge of money laundering.
Arguing, his counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), said the EFCC asked him to give them $1 million.
But EFCC counsel, Salisu Majidadi, asked the court to discountenance the application because Fani-Kayode was being held on remand of the court’s pending investigation. He said while the first remand order lapsed on May 24, a fresh order was granted in Lagos which will expire on June 15.