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Nigeria: Court May Issue Bench Warrant On Iyabo Today
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Leadership (Abuja)
19 May 2008
Posted to the web 19 May 2008
Gowon Emakpe
In Abuja High Court may today issue a bench warrant on Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, to appear before it to answer allegation bordering on conspiracy, theft and retention of N10 million, stolen from the Federal Ministry of Health.
Justice Salisu Garba had at the last sitting adjourned to today, to rule on a motion by Obasanjo-Bello seeking to quash the charges and another motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
Obasanjo-Bello is challenging the charges over her alleged involvement in the sharing of the N300 million unspent fund in the Federal Ministry of Health 2007 appropriation account.
But counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. James Binang, in adopting his written submission, urged the court to issue a bench warrant on Obasanjo-Bello, stressing that her physical appearance is mandatory for the consideration of her application.
Similarly the court will today hear an application by the former ministers of health, Professor Adenike Grange and Arc. Gabriel Aduku, and nine others seeking to quash charges of criminal conspiracy, theft, breach of trust and stealing of N300 million from the Federal Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, the Ufedo Club of Nigeria (UCN) has extolled the virtues of Aduku, saying that he has committed no offence, as the proof of evidence did not indict him in any way, stressing that the only offence he committed was because he was a minister when some greedy people looted the public treasury.
In a press release signed by the national publicity secretary of the club, Steve Usman, they described Aduku as a humble, disciplined and trustworthy person that should not be associated with the recent allegation of fraud.
According to them, they have been following Aduku's antecedents in both his private and public life and has found that he never been associated with any fraudulent practices.
They also noted that Aduku has distinguished himself professionally and politically over the years and that he cannot condescend so low as to mortgage his name with a token N7 million share of the alleged fraud.
Furthermore, they said that he honourably resigned his position as minister to give unfettered access to the EFCC to investigate the corruption scandal in the ministry, even though he is innocent.
The club frowned at the subterranean moves by some persons from Kogi East Senatorial Zone lobbying to be considered as minister to replace Aduku, who is yet to be judge guilty by a court of law. They described the move as uncalled for and a sign of greed and selfishness by unscrupulous politicians.
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It would be recalled that the EFCC recently arrested and charged Grange, Aduku and nine others to court for alleged stealing N300 million from the Ministry of Health and declared Obasanjo-Bello wanted.
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