Arms Deal: EFCC Investigates Fani-Kayode Over N1.7bn Allegation

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, is currently under the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over N1.7 billion scandal linked with the embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

The investigation, according to SaharaReporters, was prompted by a petition sent to the EFCC by some former staffers of the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organization alleging Fani-Kayode received N1.7 billion from Sambo Dasuki. Fani-Kayode was the PDP presidential campaign media director during the 2015 presidential election.
Last year, Mr. Fani-Kayode beat a variety of money laundering charges at a Federal High Court in Lagos, charges of money laundering and financial crimes dating to his time as the Minister for Aviation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo were dismissed following series of deals with a trial judge.
A source in ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration said that Mr. Fani-Kayode had received N1.7 billion directly from Mr. Jonathan in funds that they suspected came from Dasuki. The source claimed that the funds were handed to the former Aviation minister when he was acting as the main spokesman for then President Jonathan’s Presidential campaign organization. The online news platform said it also learned that, shortly after his reported receipt of the large sum of funds, Mr. Fani-Kayode purchased several SUVs, including one for Precious Chikwendu, his girlfriend at the time.
A source at the EFCC said that their investigators had traced a substantial amount of illicit funds to Mr. Fani-Kayode. He revealed that the former Jonathan spokesman worked hard to avoid leaving paper trails that could lead investigators to him, adding, specifically, that many of the transactions involving Mr. Fani-Kayode were made in cash.
Investigators’ focus on Mr. Fani-Kayode is the latest chapter in a series of revelations of numerous politicians who benefited from the defense funds that Mr. Dasuki allegedly turned into political largesse. Nigerian investigators have made several arrests of people tied to the apparent illicit sharing of the misappropriated funds. Mr. Dasuki himself is standing trial for his role in disbursing the funds