Posted by From Godwin Tsa Abuja on
Two former Ministers in the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and Architect Gabriel Aduku were on Tuesday ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by an Abuja High court over the N300 million scam rocking the ministry.
• EFCC declares Iyabo wanted
Two former Ministers in the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and Architect Gabriel Aduku were on Tuesday ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by an Abuja High court over the N300 million scam rocking the ministry.
Also on Tuesday, the noose tightened on the dynasty of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo as the EFCC declared his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo Bello wanted for dishonestly helping herself to the sum of N10 million belonging to the Federal Government.
Iyabo, who was charged together with the former ministers in respect of the scam was, however, not available in court, forcing the prosecution counsel, James Binang, to skip the two-count charge against her during the arraignment that lasted for four hours.
At exactly as 12. 48 pm, Professor Grange and 10 others were docked after the prosecution counsel had applied that the 56 count charges be read before them.
Also arraigned was the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Simon Ogandi, Dr. H.B. Oyedepo (Director of Finance), Hanafi Mohammed, Donald Ekanem, Donatus Inyang, Olomo J.A, Obanla Emmanuel Olatunbosun, Henry Onyeagwalam and Edem Augustine Bassey.
Before their arraignment, Professor Grange who was accompanied by her husband, daughter and other family members was looking pensive in dark eyeglasses.
Clad in a black skirt and blouse with a green scarf, she sat at the extreme end of the court with sealed lips.
While other suspects were busy reading through the copy of the charge sheet that was served on them, the former Health Minister wore a moody look.
After the clerk of the court read the charges before them, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Some of the charges against them include:
*That you [1] Professor Adenike Grange, [2] Gabriel Aduku, [3] Professor Samuel Ogandi, [4] Oyedepo H.B. [5] Hanafi Mohammed, sometimes in December 2007 in Abuja, within the Abuja Judicial Division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being public servants in the Federal Ministry of Health, with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves 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 Act Cap 532 Laws of the federation of Nigeria [Abuja 1990]
*That you [1] Professor Adenike Grange, [2] Gabriel Aduku, [3] Professor Samuel Ogandi, [4] Oyedepo H.B. [5] Hanafi Mohammed, sometimes in December 2007 in Abuja, within the Abuja Judicial Division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being public servants and in that capacity entrusted with dominion over money belonging to the Federal Ministry of Health in Oceanic Bank PLC Acount No. 1301005284, committed criminal breach of trust by fraudulently withdrawing the sum of N10, 500,000,00 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; and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the federation of Nigeria [Abuja 1990]
*That you [1] Professor Adenike Grange, [2] Gabriel Aduku, [3] Professor Samuel Ogandi, [4] Oyedepo H.B. [5] Hanafi Mohammed, sometimes in December 2007 in Abuja, within the Abuja judicial Division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being public servants and in that capacity 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 N5, 000,000,00 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; and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the federation of Nigeria [Abuja 1990]
*That you [1] Professor Adenike Grange, [2] Gabriel Aduku, [3] Professor Samuel Ogandi, [4] Oyedepo H.B. [5] Hanafi Mohammed, sometimes in December 2007 in Abuja, within the Abuja judicial Division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being public servants and in that capacity 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 N3, 000,000,00 purporting same to be a contract sum in favour of EL-BLESS MECHANICAL WORKS, in violation of the mode in which such trust is to be discharged; and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 315 of the e Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the federation of Nigeria [Abuja 1990]
*That you [1] Professor Adenike Grange, [2] Gabriel Aduku, [3] Professor Samuel Ogandi, [4] Oyedepo H.B. [5] Hanafi Mohammed, sometimes in December 2007 in Abuja, within the Abuja judicial Division of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, while being public servants and in that capacity 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 N3, 000,000,00 purporting same to be a contract sum in favour of Hakev, in violation of the mode in which such trust is to be discharged; and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the federation of Nigeria [Abuja 1990].
The charge against Iyabo Obasanjo reads;
That you Senator Iyabo Obasanjo Bello [now at large] sometimes between December 2007 and March 2008, at Abuja within the judicial division of the FCT while serving as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on health in the National Assembly dishonestly retained the sum of N10 million belonging to the Federal Government having reason to believe same to be stolen property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 317 of the Penal Code Act [Cap 352] LFN 1990, Abuja.
Though she was not in court to answer her charges, the EFCC has vowed to explore all the machinery of the law to bring her to justice.
The prosecution counsel told journalists that the Commission wants her.
It was at this stage that counsel to the accused persons moved their oral applications praying the court to admit their clients on bail contending that the offences are bailable in nature.
In his submission, Dr. Alex Izinyon [SAN] who appeared for Professor Grange said the circumstances of the case was such that would warrant the court to grant them bail.
He further submitted that from the statement of the prosecution indicating that investigation into the matter has been concluded, the accused were therefore not in a position to tamper with investigation.
The Senior Advocate urged the court to take judicial notice that his client has resigned her appointment to prove her innocence in the case and that the proof of evidence together with the evidence of the witnesses did not indict his client.
Also making his submission, counsel to the former Minister of State, Architect Gabriel Aduku , Dr. S.S Ameh [SAN] urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client as the offences are bailable. He further prayed the court to consider the presumption of innonce of the accused persons and to release them on bail pending trial.
But Mr. Ben Anachebe [SAN] who appeared for the Permanent Secretary cited the provisions of sections 35 [4], 36 [5] of the 1999 constitution and sections 340, 341 and 342 [2] of the Criminal Procedure Code and urged the court to grant them bail.
Other counsel to the suspects adopted the submissions of the senior advocates while praying court to release their clients on bail.
In opposition to the bail applications, the prosecution counsel, James Binang urged the court to refuse the application on the grounds that investigations was on-going and that the application should be brought formally by affidavit evidence.
In his ruling, Justice Salisu Garba ordered that the suspects be remanded in EFCC custody to await his ruling on the bail application on April 11, 2008, while the substantive trial has been fixed for April 29, 2008.