The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the purported arrest of the wife of Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, Precious Chikwendu.
Mr Fani-Kayode’s wife was said to have been arrested on Monday alongside her eight-month-old son by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital in southwest Nigeria.
The party made the censure on Tuesday in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
The statement read: “We condemn in its entirety, the arrest and detention of Precious Chikwendu, Wife of Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDP-PCO) on October 17, 2016 by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
“She was arrested along with her eight-month-old son, Aragorn, and would have been detained but for the timely intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose.
“This action represents a new low in the Federal Government’s resolve to harass and persecute real and perceived enemies of the Buhari Administration under the guise of an anti-corruption crusade.
“It is reprehensible for the government to attack members of the families of its perceived enemies, especially wives and children, for any reason whatsoever.
“In addition to freezing Chief Fani-Kayod’s accounts, the Federal Government has ordered the freezing of accounts of his wife, Precious Chikwendu, several of which were opened and operated long before their marriage.
“These accounts have been frozen for no reason other than her marriage to Mr Fani-Kayode.
“The Buhari Administration cannot, and must not be allowed to continue the violation of the constitutional rights and freedom of the Nigerian people.
“This sort of tyranny must not be allowed to continue unchecked.
“We have advised the family to approach the courts and enforce their legal rights in this matter”.
EFCC Denies Claimed Arrest
The anti-graft agency, however, said it did not detain the wife of the former Aviation Minister, contrary to reports in the media and the PDP claims.
In a statement made available to the media on Monday, the Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, cleared the air on the said arrest.
“The wife of Femi Fani-Kayode and her child are not in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and were never detained by the Commission.
“Contrary to the media spin about the purported arrest of mother and child, a certain Chikwendu Sonia today (Monday) attempted to withdraw money from an Access Bank account that had been placed on ‘Post No Debit’ Category, following the discovery of illicit cash flows into the account.
“She was intercepted by the bank while the Commission was notified but because it was late, the EFCC advised that the suspect be taken to the Police station for processing and release on bail.
“They were arranging to take the suspect to the police station when Governor Ayo Fayose stormed the bank with thugs and his personal security and forcefully secured the release of the suspect, with claims that the EFCC had no power to detain anybody in his state,” the statement read.
