The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the alleged arrest of Precious Chikwendu, wife of the embattled former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
A statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the action marked a new low in the Federal Government’s alleged persecution of real and perceived enemies of the Buhari administration in the guise of the fight against corruption.
“We condemn, in its entirety, the arrest and detention of Precious Chikwendu, wife of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), on October 17, 2016 by officials of the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ado-Ekiti,” the statement said.
“She was arrested along with her 8 month old son, Aragorn, and would have been detained but for the timely intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose.
“It is reprehensible for the government to attack members of the families of its perceived enemies, especially wives and children, for any reason whatsoever.”
The party also chided the government for freezing the accounts of the politician’s wife, which it said were opened and operated even before she got married to the politician.
“The Buhari administration cannot, and must not, be allowed to continue the violation of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people. This sort of tyranny must not be allowed to continue unchecked,” the party said.
“We have advised the family to approach the courts and enforce their legal rights in this matter.”
The EFCC has, however, denied arresting Mrs. Fani-Kayode, saying its operatives were not in Ekiti and could not have been involved in the arrest and detention Mr. Fani-Kayode’s wife and son.
Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesman, had explained that the police were seeking to interrogate Mrs. Fani-Kayode for attempting to withdraw funds from a frozen Access Bank account.
He said the police were attempting to interrogate her and release her on bail before Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, allegedly stormed the bank with this security details to free her.
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