EFCC releases Fani-Kayode from detention

Embattled former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, was on Friday released after more than two months in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, his media adviser said.Jude Ndukwe told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Fani-Kayode was released Friday evening, and that he was likely to travel from Lagos where he was held, to Abuja later tonight.

“Yes, he’d confirmed to me that he’d been released,” Mr. Ndukwe said in a brief telephone exchange at 7:13 p.m. “It’s still possible he might come to Abuja tonight if he’s able to.”

Mr. Fani-Kayode had been in detention since his arrest on May 9, 2016, in Abuja.

He was later transferred to Lagos where the EFCC slammed a 17-count charge on him, accusing the former minister of misappropriating government money.

After weeks in detention, Mr. Fani-Kayode was granted a N250 million bail on July 4, but he was still kept in custody pending his meeting the requirements for his bail.

A former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, and a man, Danjuma Yusuf, who were charged alongside Mr. Fani-Kayode, were also given similar bail conditions.

It was not immediately clear whether the two had met their bail conditions.