allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Health Budget Scam - How N20m Was Traced to Senate C'ttee (Page 1 of 2)

FACTS emerged yesterday on how the controversial N20 million released to the Senate Committee on Health headed by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello by the Federal Ministry of Health was traced.

Vanguard gathered that the Clerk of the Committee who was one of those interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday told his interrogators that he met N10 million of the money in the committee purse when he assumed duties in January.

The money, sources said, was in fact collected on behalf of the committee by the former clerk who then handed it over to his successor, following his (former Clerk) redeployment to another committee.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, Senator Omar Hambagda, said yesterday that Senators found culpable in the alleged utilisation of the unspent 2007 budget of the Federal Ministry of Health should face the full wrath of the law.

The EFCC quizzed the Clerks of the National Assembly Committees on Health. The Committee clerks returned to their duty posts yesterday after spending time with the security operatives on Wednesday.

But Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, who has denied any wrongdoing on the utilisation of the N20 million sponsorship grant from the ministry for a Committee retreat, yesterday waived away journalists seeking her comment on the issue.

Prof. Adenike Grange and Arc. Gabriel Aduku, the Minister and Minister of State, Health early this week tendered their letters of resignation from office upon allegations of violating a presidential directive to return unspent portions of the 2007 budget.

N20 million of the fund has since been traced to the Senate Committee on Health purportedly released for a legislative retreat on the National Health Bill.

Senate Ethics wants EFCC probe of indicted Senators

Speaking to newsmen on the issue yesterday, Senator Hambagda said: "The ball is not yet in Senate court (but) if EFCC is prosecuting the two Ministers and all those who are involved in the sharing of N300 million, then the members of the committee, if they are really a part of it, should be treated the same way. It has nothing to do with the Senate ethics."

At press time yesterday, senior bureaucrats of the Senate were locked in a meeting apparently on the issue.

Iyabo Obasanjo shuns reporters

However, an attempt by newsmen to get a response from Senator Obasanjo-Bello, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, was repulsed. Newsmen and television cameramen had positioned themselves outside the Senate Committee Hearing Room One where Senator Obasanjo-Bello hosted stakeholders to a meeting on the National Health Policy.

At the end of the meeting, as she made for her office through the back exit of the Hearing Room, the newsmen followed, seeking her comment on the allegation. The embattled Senator Obasanjo-Bello promptly instructed the security operatives at the intersection between the new Senate building and the old building not to allow any journalist to follow her.

"Senate security, nobody should come into my office," she said.

I'll be vindicated - Aduku

Architect Gabriel Aduku who resigned as Minister of State for Health on Tuesday has said he was not part of the alleged fraud in the ministry and that he would be vindicated.

According to him, the resignation would pave the way for the anti graft agency to do its job and prove his innocence in the whole issue. A copy of his resignation letter dated March 20, 2008 and addressed to President Umaru Yar'Adua reads: "I have the honour to herewith, tender my resignation as the honourable Minister of State, Health based on the prevailing circumstances in the Federal Ministry of Health and in view of the interim report of the EFCC into the financial malpractices in the ministry.

"My decision to resign is informed by my firm belief that while I remain innocent of all the charges levelled against me in the EFCC report, I consider it appropriate that I should leave the stage to give unfettered opportunity to the EFCC to conclude its enquiries.

"I wish to seize this opportunity to express my profound and sincere appreciation to your Excellency, for the opportunity you have given me to serve as a member of your cabinet. In my brief service in government, I have endeavoured to serve with commitment, dedication and loyalty to implement your Excellency's policies and programmes in the health sector.

"As I leave government, I pledge my unalloyed loyalty and commitment to serve your Excellency and my dear country, Nigeria, as you continue to drive to achieve the administration's seven point development agenda leading to the realization of the gigantic/enormous challenge of the vision 20-2020 project."

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