Fani-Kayode asks: How does a ‘heart-related ailment’ suddenly become ‘heart disease’?

Femi Fani-Kayode, former minister of aviation, says the report that he has a “heart disease” is false.

Fani-Kayode, who was the director of publicity of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 campaign organisation, is facing a N4.6 billion fraud charge.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred a 17-count charge of laundering about N4.6 billion against the accused.

He had pleaded not guilty.

Fani-Kayode was absent in court on Wednesday, for a health-related issue.

Norrison Quakers, his counsel, had told the court that his client had to seek medical help after complaints about pains in his heart.

Quakers had described his client’s condition as a “heart-related ailment” but a news medium reported that he had “heart disease”.

Reacting in a statement which Obiageli Nwachukwu, his media aide, issued on his behalf, Fani-Koyode said the report has caused fear and panic among his friends and family members.

“It has been brought to our attention that a newspaper in a blazing and sensational headline, reported that the former minister of aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has heart disease. This is false,” the statement read.

“Worst still the story has brought a lot of fear and consternation into the hearts and minds of Chief Fani-Kayode’s friends, supporters and family members all over the world.

“It is only in the world of the reporter that a ‘heart-related ailment’ has suddenly become ‘heart disease’.

“Chief Fani-Kayode’s lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers SAN, said that he had a ‘heart-related ailment’ in open court and not ‘heart disease’. He also said that he will be presenting a medical report to the court at a later date.”

He described the report as unprofessional and unexpected, arging that there is a lot of difference between the “misplaced terms”.

“There is a world of difference between the two. For the newspaper to misrepresent what was said in court is unprofessional and unexpected of a newspaper of such high calibre and repute and which we ordinarily hold in high esteem,” the statement read.

“Secondly, it is not true that Chief Fani-Kayode had asked the court and got two previous adjournments in this case.

“The court records are there for all to see. Today was the first and only time that Chief Fani-Kayode has EVER been absent from the proceedings at the Federal High Court in Lagos or asked for an adjournment from this particular learned judge.

“He looks forward to being in court at the adjourned date and he fully appreciates the fact that the EFCC did not oppose the application for adjournment and that the learned trial judge granted it expeditiously.”