Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has reacted angrily to the reported detention of his wife, Precious Chikwendu, and their eight-month-old son at a bank in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Fani-Kayode, who is among the persons linked to the ongoing investigation into alleged arms procurement fund diversion, accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of targeting his family in connection with the investigation.
In a statement issued on the development, the former minister alleged that his wife and infant son were detained at an Access Bank branch in Ado-Ekiti while she was in the city to visit former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, and his family.
According to Fani-Kayode, his wife had gone to the bank to withdraw money before she and the child were allegedly stopped by officials acting on the orders of the EFCC.
He described the incident as unacceptable and accused the authorities of attempting to pressure him through members of his family.
“My wife travelled to Ado Ekiti to see my friend and brother Governor Fayose and his family,” Fani-Kayode said.
He alleged that she was never formally invited by the EFCC or questioned over the bank account in question, adding that the account had been inactive since 2013.
Fani-Kayode further claimed that the account contained relatively small sums of money and had no connection with his own financial activities.
He also alleged that several accounts belonging to him and his wife had been frozen as part of efforts to pressure his family.
According to the former minister, the situation was eventually brought under control following the intervention of Fayose and residents who gathered around the bank.
He thanked the former governor and residents of Ado-Ekiti for intervening, while claiming that his wife and son subsequently left Ekiti State.
Fani-Kayode also announced plans to seek legal redress over what he described as unlawful treatment of his family.
“We intend to sue the bank and to sue the EFCC for this illegal and wicked action,” he said.
He maintained that if the EFCC wanted to question his wife, the commission could formally invite her.
“If they want to see my wife all they need to do is to invite her. We have nothing to fear,” he added.
Fani-Kayode ended his statement with a broader criticism of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the government of using pressure against members of his family.
The allegations contained in Fani-Kayode’s statement remain his account of the incident, while the circumstances surrounding the reported detention and the EFCC’s position on the matter would determine the full picture.
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