Custody tussle: Fani-Kayode accuses Chikwendu of inciting public against him

Femi Fani-Kayode, the former aviation minister, has accused Precious Chikwendu, his estranged wife, of inciting the public against him.

The politician’s marriage to Chikwendu failed in 2020 after the latter’s domestic violence claims and the former’s counter-allegations of infidelity.

They have been in a heated tussle for the custody of their four children who have been in Fani-Kayode’s care.

In a letter addressed to Abiodun E. Olusanya, counsel to Chikwendu, the ex-minister faulted the decision of the former beauty queen to take to social media on December 16 after his team pledged to look into some of the issues she raised.

The ex-minister, in the letter signed by Adeola Adedipe, his lawyer, said his team had in a letter dated December 14 agreed to examine Chikwendu’s concerns for “possible compromise.”

“In the said letter, we urged for time, in order to confer with our client on your propositions. Unfortunately, whilst we were still broaching the issues with our client for a possible compromise, on 16 December 2021, Ms Precious Chikwendu (your client) elected to incite the public against chief Femi Fani-Kayode, vide various social media platforms,” it read.

“She misrepresented in the public domain, that our client had violated the order of the court, without disclosing in good faith, the content of our prompt response to you.”

The politician said opting to incite the public against him ahead of his team’s planned response “smacks of bad faith.”

Fani-Kayode also denied Chikwendu’s claim that he refused her access to their four children, saying she is “at liberty to see her children, anytime she so desires.”

“We reckon with your nobility, and sincerely believe that you could not have authorised your client’s decision to frustrate the process of agreement between ‘counsel’, as admonished by the court. Your attention is being called to this misleading disposition of your client, because it smacks of bad faith,” it read.

“Be that as it may, it is imperative to reaffirm for the umpteenth time, that your client is at liberty to see her children, anytime she so desires. This access has always been open to her from the outset, and it so remains, for all intents and purposes.

“For the records, our notice of preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court is still extant…

“This being the case, our client is convinced that it is appropriate to appeal the order of court made on 8th December 2021, because ab initio, the court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

“Accordingly, we have lodged an appeal against the said decision, and have equally filed a motion on notice to stay execution of same.

“Kindly reassure your client, of the unhindered access she has to see her children, whenever she so desires. Also, you may also wish to advise her that it is not salutary to incite the public against our client or anyone, vide any social medial platform.

“This is because such conducts may attract criminal liabilities, under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015. We believe in the course of justice, and do assure you of our high regards.”