After being discharged and acquitted of fraud charges by a
Federal High court sitting in Lagos today, Femi Fani Kayode, his Fiancée and friends all stormed a restaurant to celebrate his victory. The former
minister also sent out a press statement in that regard and of course his fiancée
has a word or two for us all with a photo. All of these after the cut.
Federal High court sitting in Lagos today, Femi Fani Kayode, his Fiancée and friends all stormed a restaurant to celebrate his victory. The former
minister also sent out a press statement in that regard and of course his fiancée
has a word or two for us all with a photo. All of these after the cut.
What his fiancée posted;
The Press Statement, then the photos right after it;
Press Statement by
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on the Occasion of his Victory at the Federal High Court
on 1st July 2015.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on the Occasion of his Victory at the Federal High Court
on 1st July 2015.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted, humbled and relieved
by this verdict. In the last seven years, I have been subjected to the most
malicious, vicious, sinister, well-orchestrated, insidious and devastating form
of political persecution and wickedness.
by this verdict. In the last seven years, I have been subjected to the most
malicious, vicious, sinister, well-orchestrated, insidious and devastating form
of political persecution and wickedness.
The whole process almost destroyed my life, my family, my
reputation, my health and my career. I thank God for his goodness, his mercy
and for the fact that today, the whole nightmare has finally come to an end.
reputation, my health and my career. I thank God for his goodness, his mercy
and for the fact that today, the whole nightmare has finally come to an end.
Initially, I was accused of stealing N19.5bn of public funds
when I was Minister of Aviation. It was thrown out by the courts. Then I was
accused of stealing N6.5bn. It was thrown out by the courts. Then I was accused
of laundering N200m. It was thrown out by the courts.
when I was Minister of Aviation. It was thrown out by the courts. Then I was
accused of stealing N6.5bn. It was thrown out by the courts. Then I was accused
of laundering N200m. It was thrown out by the courts.
Then I was accused of laundering N99m. It was thrown out by
the courts. Finally, I was accused of laundering N1m and N1.1m respectively,
and today, both of these charges have also been thrown out by the courts.
the courts. Finally, I was accused of laundering N1m and N1.1m respectively,
and today, both of these charges have also been thrown out by the courts.
I give thanks to God for today’s verdict. It is the doing of
the lord and it is marvelous in our sight. Once again, he has proved that he is
faithful and true and that he always honors his word.
the lord and it is marvelous in our sight. Once again, he has proved that he is
faithful and true and that he always honors his word.
I wish to thank my family members, leaders of the Body of
Christ, intercessors, pastors, political associates and friends who never
doubted my innocence and who stood by me through thick and thin. I wish to
thank my lawyers who worked so hard and so diligently over the last seven years
throughout this case.
Christ, intercessors, pastors, political associates and friends who never
doubted my innocence and who stood by me through thick and thin. I wish to
thank my lawyers who worked so hard and so diligently over the last seven years
throughout this case.
I wish to thank the Nigerian judiciary for dispensing
justice in an honest and God-fearing way and for refusing to be intimidated by
anyone or guided by anything other than the evidence presented before them in
this case.
justice in an honest and God-fearing way and for refusing to be intimidated by
anyone or guided by anything other than the evidence presented before them in
this case.
They dispensed justice with candor and fairness, and
throughout the proceedings, they were fair to all, honest, courageous, professional
and true.
throughout the proceedings, they were fair to all, honest, courageous, professional
and true.
I thank them for refusing to send an innocent man to jail
and for refusing to allow themselves to be used as tools for personal and
vindictive vendettas or political persecution.
and for refusing to allow themselves to be used as tools for personal and
vindictive vendettas or political persecution.
This gruesome ordeal started seven years ago and throughout that
period, it was grueling and difficult. They took seven years from me but they
couldn’t break me or end my life.
period, it was grueling and difficult. They took seven years from me but they
couldn’t break me or end my life.
It was a very difficult period for both me and my family
which came with enormous and unimaginable challenges, yet from day one I never
doubted that I would be vindicated because God had assured me of it and I know
the God that I serve. He never lies and He never fails.
which came with enormous and unimaginable challenges, yet from day one I never
doubted that I would be vindicated because God had assured me of it and I know
the God that I serve. He never lies and He never fails.
He said, through his Holy Spirit, that my innocence would
speak for me and that he would fight this battle for me and he did. He said
that he is the author and the finisher of my faith, my shield, my glory and the
lifter of my head and he was.
speak for me and that he would fight this battle for me and he did. He said
that he is the author and the finisher of my faith, my shield, my glory and the
lifter of my head and he was.
He has proved all that throughout my life and he has proved
it once again with the verdict in this case. To him alone be all the glory.
it once again with the verdict in this case. To him alone be all the glory.
When the ordeal began seven years ago the Lord ministered
that it would last for seven years but that in the end, I would be declared
innocent, I would be vindicated and I would be delivered.
that it would last for seven years but that in the end, I would be declared
innocent, I would be vindicated and I would be delivered.
Again he honored his word because the whole nightmare
started on 1st of July 2008 when I was arrested in the premises of the Nigerian
Senate after the public hearing on the N19.5 billion Naira Aviation
Intervention Fund.
started on 1st of July 2008 when I was arrested in the premises of the Nigerian
Senate after the public hearing on the N19.5 billion Naira Aviation
Intervention Fund.
I was cleared of any wrong doing in the administration of
that fund by the Senate Commitee on Aviation yet despite that, immediately
after the sitting before the Comimitee, I was abducted and arrested in an
unceremonious and shameul fashion and locked up by the Farida Waziri-led EFCC
for 10 days and charged to a magistrate court in Abuja.
that fund by the Senate Commitee on Aviation yet despite that, immediately
after the sitting before the Comimitee, I was abducted and arrested in an
unceremonious and shameul fashion and locked up by the Farida Waziri-led EFCC
for 10 days and charged to a magistrate court in Abuja.
Today, the 1st of July 2015, seven years to the day from
that day when I was first arrested and first put into detention, I have been
discharged and acquitted of all remaining charges by the courts.
that day when I was first arrested and first put into detention, I have been
discharged and acquitted of all remaining charges by the courts.
The Lord has, once again, honored his word, to him alone be
the glory.
the glory.
As a mark of honour and respect for the Lord and as an
everlasting testimony of my love for and dedication to him, I wish to make it
known to the Nigerian public that as from today my name will be changed.
everlasting testimony of my love for and dedication to him, I wish to make it
known to the Nigerian public that as from today my name will be changed.
It will no longer be David Oluwafemi Fani-Kayode but
instead, it shall be David Oluwafemi Olukayode. Olukayode means “the Lord has
brought me joy” and today he has done precisely that.
instead, it shall be David Oluwafemi Olukayode. Olukayode means “the Lord has
brought me joy” and today he has done precisely that.
As from this day, in honor of him and as a small tribute to
my love for and total dependance on Him, that shall remain my family name. Once
again, I give thanks to God for all that has happened to me and for this great
deliverance. To him be all the glory.
my love for and total dependance on Him, that shall remain my family name. Once
again, I give thanks to God for all that has happened to me and for this great
deliverance. To him be all the glory.
I swore that I would not leave the shores of Nigeria until
this matter was finally brought to an end and the courts had pronounced my
innocence. That was seven years ago.
this matter was finally brought to an end and the courts had pronounced my
innocence. That was seven years ago.
I kept faith with that oath and it gives me pleasure to tell
you that now that the whole ordeal is over I shall be leaving the shores of my
beloved country for the first time in seven years for a short holiday and a
long overdue medical examination.
you that now that the whole ordeal is over I shall be leaving the shores of my
beloved country for the first time in seven years for a short holiday and a
long overdue medical examination.
They not only threw the whole book at me but also the entire
kitchen sink but the Lord was with me. I stood on His words in Isaiah 50 v.7-9
and I never faltered or doubted Him even in the most difficult times.
kitchen sink but the Lord was with me. I stood on His words in Isaiah 50 v.7-9
and I never faltered or doubted Him even in the most difficult times.
Now they know that I serve a mighty God who never forsakes
His own. I thank the media for their constant support and attention and I thank
the millions of Nigerian people that chose to believe in me and to keep faith
with me throughout this ordeal. Once again, I give thanks to the Lord. God
bless you all.
His own. I thank the media for their constant support and attention and I thank
the millions of Nigerian people that chose to believe in me and to keep faith
with me throughout this ordeal. Once again, I give thanks to the Lord. God
bless you all.
Signed:
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Chief Oluwafemi Olukayode)
1st July, 2015
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