The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has said the continuous detention of its party stalwart, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without giving him access to his medication is a violation of his constitutional rights to health and life.
The statement by the PDP is coming just as an aide to Fani-Kayode notified the public on Monday of Fani-Kayode slumping in EFCC custody in what could have been a fatal incident but for the timely intervention of the EFCC’s medical team.
In the statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and posted on its official Twitter handle: @OfficialPDPNig on Tuesday, the party advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to stop harassing and intimidating its members “in the guise of an anti-corruption war,” adding that EFCC should allow Fani-Kayode get “access to his medication and medical doctors who are conversant with his medical history.”
It also called on well-meaning Nigerians to caution the government and EFCC to “to desist from its path of human rights abuses.”
The statement reads:
“It is common knowledge that in furtherance of its campaign of attrition against members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the guise of an anti-corruption war, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Spokesperson for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PDPPCP) was arrested in the premises of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
“His re-arrest is the latest in a series of plans designed to further harass and intimidate our members and supporters using the security and intelligence apparatus of the Nigerian State.
“A few days before his arrest his wife, Precious Chikwendu and their 8 month old son, Aragorn, were arrested and would have been detained but for the timely intervention of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.
“What is not common knowledge is that at the time of his arrest, Chief Fani-Kayode was ill and taking medication. Since his arrest, he has been denied access to his medication and medical doctors who are conversant with his medical history.
“As at the time of writing this statement, officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have continued to deny Chief Fani-Kayode access to his medication.
“The only conclusion that can be reached is that the APC-led Federal Government and EFCC want Chief Fani-Kayode to die in EFCC detention. In the light of the prevailing circumstances where EFCC are detaining an obviously weak and ill man, this is an inescapable conclusion.
“These continuous violations of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people by the Buhari Administration must stop. The Federal Government cannot, and must not, be allowed to continually infringe on the rights of the very people it swore to uphold.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to urge the Federal Government to desist from its path of human rights abuses.”
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