Femi Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister, will remain illegally in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC until November 10, 2016 when the anti-graft agency says it will arraign on a new charge.
EFCC sources told Premium Times, an online newspaper, that Chief Fani-Kayode would be charged for allegedly receiving about N26 million from a former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a retired army colonel.
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The sources said if granted bail on the same day, the EFCC will rearrest him and slam fresh charges against him for allegedly collecting another N22 million from Colonel Dasuki.
The money is part of the $2.1 billion infamous arms scandal.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Fani-Kayode will be arraigned on November 10, but said the report of a re-arrest was a “mere rumour”.
“It is true he has been served (on the N26 million charge) and the case will come up on November 10,” Mr. Uwujaren said. He added that the claim the former aviation minister might be arrested again on that day over new allegations of N22 million was a “mere rumour.”
Fani-Kayode served as spokesman for the re-election campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He is being held in contravention of the Nigerian constitution that stipulates that detainees should be charged to court or released from detention within 48 hours.
Fani-Kayode, a vibrant critic of the Muhammadu Buhari government, was re-arrested two weeks ago when he appeared in court over a matter filed by the EFCC. A day after he was arrested, he slumped in custody leading to fears for his safety.
No new charges have been filed against him and his detention has been labelled a political witch-hunt by the opposition party and political activists.
Meanwhile, the EFCC continues to sponsor stories in APC leaning news platforms like Premium Times, supplying innuendo intended to cast high-profile political detainees like Fani-Kayode as corrupt without providing actual evidence of the allegations.
