FAYOSE FORCEFULLY RELEASES FFK'S WIFE FROM EFCC CUSTODY

In his typical show of no love for the federal government authorities, the governor of Ekiti State, South West Nigeria, yesterday forcefully released the wife of a former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.

Governor Fayose and Mrs Fani-Kayode

Mrs. Precious Fani-Kayode who was visiting Governor Fayose had gone to the local branch of Access Bank with her eight months old son at about 3pm to make a cash withdrawal from her account when she was detained for many hours by the bank officials allegedly on the instructions of the EFCC. After she placed a call to the Governor, he came to the bank in company of his security details and forcefully released her.

In his reaction Chief Fani-Kayode has vowed to sue the bank officials and the EFCC for "this illegal and wicked action". He went on to say "if Buhari wants to deal with me, why doesn’t he face me like a man instead of trying to harm and hurt my eight-month-old son and wife.

“Had it not been for the intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose, they would have taken them away and subjected them to all manner of harm and indignity simply because she is married to me.

“This is Buhari’s Nigeria and we will resist his wickedness and tyranny.”

While Mrs. Fani-Kayode claims the account had been dormant for over five years and just recently been reactivated with a balance of NGN 200,000.00, the EFCC claims the account was frozen because of "some illicit cash flows". The commission further stated "She was intercepted by the bank while the commission was notified, but because it was late, the EFCC advised that the suspect be taken to the police station for processing and release on bail.

“They were arranging to take the suspect to the police station when Governor Ayo Fayose stormed the bank with thugs and his personal security and forcefully secured the release of the suspect, with claims that the EFCC had no power to detain anybody in his state. He also vowed to close down the branch of the bank.

“The said account, which had a balance of NGN2,307,712.82, was flagged following investigation into the PDP Joint Trust Fund when the commission traced N1.1bn to the Zenith Bank account of Fani-Kayode."