The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Wednesday that it would respond to the acquittal of Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, after a review of the judgement.
Mr Wilson Uwujaren, Spokesman of EFCC, in a statement in Abuja, said the commission was making effort to obtain a certified true copy of the judgment.
“The EFCC today (Wednesday) received with shock, the ruling of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Lagos, acquitting Fani-kayode.
“The commission is making effort to obtain a certified true copy of the ruling, to enable it to respond appropriately after careful review of the judgment,” he said.
Ofili-Ajumogobia, in the judgement in Lagos on Wednesday, acquitted the former minister of a two-count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC.
She said the acquittal followed the failure of the prosecution to provide enough evidence linking Fani-Kayode to money laundering.
Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the EFCC for laundering about N100 million during his tenure as Minister of Culture and Tourism and subsequently, Minister of Aviation.
Following his discharge and acquittal of money laundering charges on Wednesday, the former Minster of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has changed his name.
Fani-Kayode, who read a prepared speech outside the courtroom shortly after Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia set him free, said his trial which began in 2008 had almost destroyed his life, his family and his reputation.
He said he would be changing his name by dropping his surname “Fani-Kayode” as a mark of honour and respect for the Lord and as a testimony of God’s love towards him.
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.”
He added, “As a mark of honour 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 Olufemi Fani-Kayode but instead, it shall be David Olufemi Olukayode.”
He said he was grateful to the nation’s judiciary for dispensing justice with the fear of God and for refusing to send him to jail.
