A Lagos State Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Bola Osunsanmi, has granted the application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to continue to keep in its custody a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.
Fani Kayode who was the Director of Media and Publicity of the former President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign organization during last year election has been held by the EFCC since two weeks ago and he is being investigated over his part in the alleged N1.5 billion fund expended by the former President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign organization. He was alleged to have received the sum of N840 million from the campaign money.
The EFCC was initially granted an application to keep him for two weeks in its custody with a caveat that the order was renewable.
The EFCC, prayed the magistrate to grant an order to keep Fani-Kayode in its custody pending when the accused is arraigned before a proper court of jurisdiction after its operatives’ investigation.
At the Monday hearing, Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Mr. A.N. Anana, told the magistrate that the order being sought to remand Fani-Kayode was in line with the provisions of Section 261 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.
He referred to his client’s letter dated May 10, 2016 on the application. The Counsel argued that the motion which was attached with a nine-paragraph affidavit of urgency deposed to by Tosin Ngbodagha, for remand was in pursuant to Section 261 of ACJL.
However, Counsel to Fani-Kayode’s Mr. Wale Balogun, countered the EFCC and accused it of breaching the constitutional rights of his client.
He contended that EFCC has earlier granted Fani-Kayode an administrative bail on May 12, 2016.
The Judge however granted the application of the EFCC to keep him for another 21 days.
