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EFCC arrests former minister Fani-Kayode over alleged fraud

Details about the arrest are currently unknown but Fani-Kayode has battled fraud allegations for years.
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode appears in court on June 28, 2016
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode appears in court on June 28, 2016

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), according to multiple media reports.

He was questioned by the commission's Lagos zonal command over allegations of forgery on Tuesday, November 23, 2021.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, has confirmed the arrest, but has not fully explained the circumstances surrounding it.

The former minister tweeted late on Tuesday that he was invited for questioning by the anti-graft agency, and not arrested as reported.

"I arrived in their office at 2.00pm & left at 8.30pm. I was granted bail on self recognition. They were very polite & professional," he posted on Twitter.

Fani-Kayode has been on trial since 2016 on a 17-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N4.9 billion.

He's charged alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, a former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Danjuma Yusuf, and a limited liability company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Limited.

The former minister has stalled the case on numerous occasions, claiming health issues, and was fined N200,000 when he failed to show up at the last hearing on October 13.

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos accused him of stalling court proceedings, after records showed he had been absent from court five times, prompting adjournments.

His lawyer, F. B. Ajudua, appealed to the judge not to revoke his bail, noting that he was at the time on bed rest at Kubwa General Hospital.

The case, which has passed through three judges, was adjourned till November 30.

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