N840m Campaign Funds: EFCC Detains Femi Fani-Kayode

The EFCC detained a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on Monday for receiving N840m from the campaign funds. The ex-minister, who arrived at the EFCC headquarters at 9.45am was still being quizzed as of 8.40pm.

Fani-Kayode was accused of receiving N840m from the Director of Finance of the campaign organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman, during the build-up to the election.

The money was said to have emanated from the account of the National Security Adviser which is domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode received N840m as the spokesman for the campaign organisation.

However, Fani-Kayode said he never knew that the money received was government’s.

Fani-Kayode had also told news men that the PDP leadership gave him the impression that the money was sourced from private individuals.

He said, “I served as the director of publicity of the Jonathan campaign organisation and I was told to set up an account for the directorate, which I did. I never received money from the CBN but like all the other directors, we received money from the director of finance.

“I was assured that the funds were not public funds but were sourced from private individuals. I never knowingly spent government money all through. The money was spent specifically on the campaigns. The accounts were audited and we were commended by the President.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC has detained Fani-Kayode as investigation continues.

Sources at the EFCC told our correspondent that the sole aim of the investigation was to recover the funds.

Usman, who served as the director of finance of the campaign organisation, had returned some funds to the Federal Government and also forfeited two properties in Abuja.

A reliable source at the EFCC said, “Nenadi Usman cooperated with us and returned funds. Fani-Kayode must also do the same. We need our money back.”