THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today arraign former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, before a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged money laundering offences.
Also, the Commission, yesterday, formally placed the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on the watch list of the nation’s security service.
The embattled former Minister of Aviation was recently picked by the EFCC over his alleged role in the alleged mismanagement of N19 billion Aviation fund, alongside his predecessor, Professor Babalola Borishade, among others.
Sources told Vanguard that Fani-Kayode who was arrested yesterday, was flown to Lagos from Abuja to face a 40-count charge of money laundering, under Section 16, subsections a and b of the EFCC Money Laundering Act.
Details of the charges to be read to Fani-Kayode in court today, indicate that, at least over 40 lodgements into his private accounts were found to have been illegal proceeds while in office.
EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the development, said operatives had spread their dragnets to apprehend the former minister’s accomplices, said to be at large at the time of his arrest.
Vanguard gathered that the EFCC counsel will inform the court that some individuals, believed to be contractors during Fani-Kayode’s tenure as Aviation Minister, allegedly lodged into his personal accounts, sums in excess of N230 million.
The commission’s lawyers will further aver that at certain stated dates, Fani-Kayode caused the monies to be paid into his private current account, held in a new generation bank account, located in Apapa, Lagos, as alleged bribe to favour them in the award of contracts.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has formally written to the Nigerian Immigration Service, Customs, State Security Service, Police and Interpol, requesting them to arrest former FCT Minister, Mallam el-Rufai anywhere he is sighted, thus placing him on the nation’s watch list.
Babafemi who confirmed the development said the former FCT helmsman would be arrested, should he try to slip through any of the nation’s entry points.
El-Rufai was declared wanted, Sunday, by the EFCC after what it described as his failure to respond to its invitation to answer questions over alleged misappropriation of N32 billion proceeds from the sale of Federal Government houses in Abuja.