No fund was missing during Fani-Kayode tenure as Aviation Minister - EFCC witness

An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness has told a Federal High Court in Lagos that the commission’s investigation revealed no fund was missing during the tenure of Femi Fani-Kayode as Aviation Minister.

Bashir Abdullahi, who was the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) spoke under cross examination by defence lawyer Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN).

He told Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia that he was assigned the case file in 2008 for investigation and a letter was written to the First Inland Bank to produce Fani-Kayode’s bank statement which was deposited with the EFCC.

The witness said that during investigations, the former minister was invited to the EFCC, where he made various statements in writing relating to the Aviation Intervention Fund (AIF) received during his tenure.

He said that Fani-Kayode on assumption of office set up a committee to probe the disbursement of the AIF made by his predecessor.

He told the court that investigations revealed that no part of the funds was missing during the tenure of the former minister.

“Our investigations revealed that a total of N19.5 billion was released as Aviation Intervention Fund, out of which a total of N8.5 billion was released during the tenure of Prof. Femi Aborishade, the predecessor.

“During the tenure of the accused, the sum of N11 billion was released and out of this sum, the accused disbursed a total of N3.8 billion, leaving a remainder of N7.2 billion in the Ministry’s account.

“Investigations also revealed that no part of the Aviation fund was missing during the tenure of the accused, and there was also no findings that the accused made any disbursement without due process”, said Abdullahi.

Following the findings of the committee, the witness said a report was sent to the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the disbursements.

However, prosecuting lawyer Festus Keyamo did not re-examine the witness but prayed the court for two adjournments to enable him produce his remaining witnesses.

Subsequently, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case to April 16 and 17 for continuation of trial.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial over a 40-count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

He was alleged to have transacted with funds exceeding the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering Act, without going through a Financial Institution.

The EFCC alleged that the former minister accepted cash payments in the tune of about N100 million, while he held sway as Minister of Aviation and Minister of Culture and Tourism respectively. (0)

No fund was missing during Fani-Kayode tenure as Aviation Minister - EFCC witness

I can justify my deed in office, says Stella Oduah

Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, yesterday justified her deeds in office, saying that she acted with dignity.

Appraising herself before a gathering of stakeholders in the aviation industry, including civil servants and pilots, Oduah, whose tenure was rocked by her purchase of two bulletproof cars for N255 million, insisted that she did “the right thing” while in office.

She said because there is dignity in labour, she did her beat, urging the stakeholders to also do their beats for posterity to judge them fairly.

She said she was sure that with the support of the stakeholders, her successor would “do the needful,” noting that a structure is already in place for her successor to exceed the feat she recorded.

Oduah maintained that Nigerians deserved selfless service, which she said the ministry and stakeholders under her watch collectively offered.

The former minister was in high spirits throughout the session.

With a retinue of admirers, she strolled into the Protea Hotel, Asokoro venue of the event at 12.06 pm in a purple gown with silver embroidery and a purple head tie to match.

She ignored the speech her media aide, Mr. Joe Obi, prepared for her and spoke extempore .

Oduah said : “I want to thank everybody in the ministry for their support. It was Einstein that said I am strong as I am because you allowed me to stand on your shoulders, and all of you here allowed me to stand on your shoulders and so I want to say thank you.

“Most of you don’t know Obi. He likes to write and he has given me five pages to read. Obi, my apologies, I want to decline.

“I am not going to read this because I really don’t have anything to say but to say that what we did, we did it collectively.

“And what we did, we did for our people, and I say Nigerian people deserve what we have done and I believe that anyone who is coming next will do far better than what we have done because the structures are there, the roadmap is there, the compass is there.

“They cannot but follow what is already in place. Anything other than that will be disservice to Nigerian people, and aviation is pivotal to our growth.

“Therefore, the next coming person, I believe with your support will do the needful. Most people don’t understand what the needful means…

“Today is a day for me to tell Nigerians that there is dignity in labour. You must do anything and everything in prioritising what Nigerian people need and what they deserve, and when you do that, posterity will not judge you unfairly.

“Also when we started, we did not play to the gallery. We did not prioritise the media because it was not about them; it was about Nigerian people; it was about doing the right thing. And without being immodest, I think we did the right thing, I think we have done our beat and we pray that the next people will do their beats. And if all of us continue doing our beats, Nigeria will become transformed.

“I want to thank Mr. President for the opportunity given to serve in spite the large population, it is a privilege and i am indeed privileged to serve Nigerians and i thank everyone for their support.” (0)

I can justify my deed in office, says Stella Oduah