TheCable

Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, has expressed delight over his acquittal in the money laundering trial that lasted for seven years.

In 2008, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him for allegedly laundering about N100 million while he was the minister of culture and tourism and later, the minister of aviation.

The sum was reduced to N2.1 million on November 17, 2014 after Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, a judge of the federal high court Lagos, dismissed 38 out of the 40 counts for want of proof.

Ofili-Ajumogobia finally discharged and acquitted the former minister on Wednesday.

Responding, Fani-Kayode described the trial as politically-motivated, thanking the judiciary for dispensing justice without fear or favour.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

He said in gratitude to God, he has decided to change his name.

“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.”