Nigeria: EFCC Arraigns Ex-Health Ministers, 9 Others

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Leadership (Abuja)

9 April 2008
Posted to the web 9 April 2008

Gowon Emakpe
Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday slammed a 56-count charge against the former ministers of health, Professor Adenike Grange and Mr. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, as well as nine others.

They were charged at the Abuja High Court over "conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery to withdraw money from the Federal Government treasury and fraud."

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who is reported to be at large, is to be charged with retention of proceeds of crime.

The two former ministers were forced to resign their appointments recently after they were accused of receiving from proceeds of a N300 million unspent fund of the ministry for 2007 appropriation account.

The Senate Committee on Health under the chairmanship of Obasanjo-Bello was also accused of taking N10 million of the money.

The anti-graft agency has declared Obasanjo-Bello wanted.

Counsel to EFCC, Mr. James Binang, told the court that Iyabo is at large and they are making all efforts to get her.

"She is at large and we are looking for her," he said.

Other accused persons include Professor Simon Ogandi, Dr. H.B. Oyedepo, Alhaji Hanafi Mohammed, Mr. Donald Ekanem, Mr. Donatus Inyang, Mr. Olomo J.A. Obanle Gwalam and Mr. Edem Augustine Bassey.

They were slammed with 54-count charges where the first charge reads that the 1st-5th accused with intent to defraud, conspired among themselves to do an illegal act, to wit: criminal breach of trust by public servant, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code.

The second charge says that the 1st-5th, entrusted with dominion over money belonging to the Federal Ministry of Health in Oceanic Bank Plc account No.1301005284, committed criminal breach of trust by fraudulently withdrawing the sum of N10.5 million therefrom, purporting same to be a contract sum awarded to Cyrolom Nigeria Enterprises, in violation of the mode in which such trust is to be discharged.

Also they were accused of fraudulently withdrewing money belonging to the Federal Ministry of Health in Oceanic Bank account No.1301005284, the sum of N5 million purporting same to be a contract sum in favour of HGR Limited in violation of the mode in which such trust is to be discharged.

They were also accused of committing criminal breach of trust by fraudulently withdrawing the sum of N3 million from the account of Federal Ministry of Health purporting same to be a contract sum in favour of El-Bless Mechanical Works.

The whole of the 54 charges were read to the accused. They pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to Grange, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), asked the judge to use his discretion in granting her bail, stressing that before she was brought to court, she had resigned her appointment as minister to prove her innocence.

He added that Grange had been on EFCC bail before her arraignment and will not jump bail, noting that she is a professor of pediatrics of international repute and would not run anywhere if granted bail.

Counsel to Aduku, Dr. Samson Sani Ameh, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

According to him, Aduku's name does not appear anywhere in the proof of evidence in connection with the alleged charges.

Furthermore, he said Aduku has been on EFCC bail since March 26 and had consistently reported to them to show that he is ready for trial.

He urged the court to grant him bail on personal recognition.

But Mr. Binang, while opposing the application, told the court that the second stage of the investigation is not yet complete and that counsel to the accused should bring a formal application for bail.

Presiding judge, Justice Salisu Garba, adjourned ruling on the application for bail till April 11, 2008 while the substantive hearing begins on April 28, 2008.

The accused persons have been to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the ruling on application for bail.

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