Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has finally come out to speak about his acquittal in the
money laundering trial that lasted for seven years.
After Ofili-Ajumogobia finally discharged and acquitted the former minister on Wednesday, Fani-Kayode
has come out now to describe the trial as "politically-motivated", and in his speech, thanks the judiciary
for dispensing justice without fear or favour.
His speech after the jump:
"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. 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.
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. 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
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. As a mark of
honor 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.
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. 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.
Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering
about N100 million while he was the minister of culture and tourism and later, the minister of aviation in
2008.
