Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected his inclusion in a list of alleged looters released by the Nigerian government through Lai Mohammed on Sunday. Mr Fani-Kayode was listed as number 18 in a list of 24 individuals accused of having looted the treasury during the past administration.
Mr Fani-Kayode said he received N866 million as the director of publicity during the reelection campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the money was not given to him by any government official
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed released the first part of the list on Friday and released the second part of the list yesterday.
But in a statement emailed to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Fani-Kayode said although he received funds in his capacity as director of publicity during the reelection campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the money was not passed to him by any government official.
“I wish to make it abundatly clear that this is nonsensical and utterly shameful and I hereby reiterate the fact that I am totally innocent of any wrongdoing,” the former minister said of the list. ”
“The Federal Government claims thay I “looted” 800,000,000 naira from government coffers. This is false.
“I did not receive and neither was I ever given one kobo by any government official, government agency or govermment parastatal during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.
“The money that I received was given to me by the Director of Finance of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman, before the election in 2015 and it was specifically for the conduct of the Presidential election.
“I was Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Organisation and it was used specifically and solely for the running and conducting of the media and publicity aspect of the election.
“Meanwhile I reject the false label of “looter” and I hereby return it to sender.
“I also deny all the charges that have been levelled against me by the EFCC, I hereby restate my innocence and I shall continue to vigorously defend myself and my good family name in the court of law.”
