Fani-Kayode joined the APC in September. Some say it was to avoid legal troubles of the EFCC that he has been dealing with for a decade
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, over alleged forgery and manipulation of documents, EFCC sources have said.
Fani-Kayode recently joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in September, ending months of speculation that he would be teaming up with the ruling party.
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Until his defection to the APC, Fani-Kayode had been one of the chief critics of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party, even calling presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, an agent of Satan.
His defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC was seen by observers as an attempt to escape his legal troubles with the EFCC.
It was gathered that at the time he joined the APC, the EFCC was about to arraign him on a fresh charge of embezzlement of funds while he was the minister of aviation, a job that ended in 2007.
The anti-graft agency, it was gathered, suspended his planned arrest and arraignment because President Muhammadu Buhari was personally involved in receiving Fani-Kayode into the ruling party.
It was gathered that the presidency may not have really forgiven Fani-Kayode who rained abuses on Buhari only to turn around to now seeking the president’s protection from the EFCC.
An EFCC source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed that Fani-Kayode was arrested on Tuesday in Lagos.
“He was arrested in Lagos and not Abuja, so he is still being held in Lagos,” he said.
Asked why Fani-Kayode was arrested, the source said it has to do with forged medical documents.
“The EFCC found out that the medical documents which were purportedly obtained from Kubwa General Hospital in Abuja were forged. They are all fake.
“Yet, Fani-Kayode uses these forged documents to ask for adjournments on medical grounds, all in a bid to stall his trial.
“He has been manipulating the judicial system and evading trial. EFCC just investigated the matter and found out that he was duping the system, hence his arrest,” the source further explained.
It is not yet clear how long he will will be detained and whether a new charge of forgery will be added to the existing corruption charges already hanging on his neck.
It was gathered that the EFCC had completed an investigation of fresh charges against him. In the coming days, Fani-Kayode may be arraigned to take his plea on the charges.