FANI-KAYODE IN ANOTHER $250,000 SCANDAL

Fani-Kayode

The last chapter of the magnitude of Government money taken for personal use and laundered overseas by former Aviation Minister and one-time Chief Spokesperson to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has not been written. Emerging facts show that France was one choice destination for Fani-Kayode to hide his loots.

Whistleblowers told pointblanknews.com that Femi Fani-Kayode took over $250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars), while attending a United Nations Education and Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO event at Paris, France in November 2006. Displaying one of his well known irrational exuberance, the outspoken Fani-Kayode was said to have kept some of the money in secret accounts and then squandered the rest on frivolous orgy for his girlfriend who double as his Special Assistant, Chioma Anasoh.

He was representing Nigeria in his capacity as the Minister of Culture and tourism at UNESCO’s First Extraordinary General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. He was accompanied on that mission by Nigeria ’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Mr Omolewa Michael, Director External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, MD Olagunju, Assistant Director, Mr. Ufot George, Deputy Permanent Delegate, UNESCO, Nwafor Young Macaulay, Senior Counselor, Permanent Delegation of Nigeria to UNESCO, Mrs. Othman Fatima, Adviser, Permanent Delegation of Nigeria to UNESCO, Mr. Lijadu Yemi, Chief Cultural Officer, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Ajibola Augustus, Special Assistant to the Minister, Chioma Anasoh, Special Assistant to the Minister, Bayo Oladeji and Gabar Kabir, a Journalist with The Guardian Newspaper.

The minister was said to have secluded himself from the other members of his delegation for the most part of the event. Sources that chose to be anonymous to avoid punitive penalty for revealing the excesses of the ex-minister said that Fani-Kayode ran the affairs of the ministry like his personal fiefdom while in the ministry. H was said to be more disposed to personal pleasure with retinue of mistresses than being a good steward of Nigerians.

Femi Fani-Kayode had been accused of diverting into private account about N11 Billion Intervention Funds meant to salvage the troubled Nigerian Aviation industry and also squandering N19 Billion Tourism and Culture Ministry money.

Also, Ms. Chioma Anasoh had confessed that she was actually caught trying to leave Nigeria via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja with “$142,000.”

Fani-Kayode was also accused of breaching airport procedures by helping two potential money couriers to beat Custom check at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

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