Posted by By GODWIN TSA Abuja. on
The two former ministers involved in the N300 million scandal at the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and Architect Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, are praying an Abuja High Court where they are standing trial to quash the 54 count-charge slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].
•EFCC seeks to amend charge
The two former ministers involved in the N300 million scandal at the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and Architect Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, are praying an Abuja High Court where they are standing trial to quash the 54 count-charge slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC].
The former ministers and nine other principal officers of the ministry are being charged with corruption, forgery, retention of stolen property, amongst other offences by the EFCC for conspiring to allegedly embezzle N300 million belonging to the Federal Government.
But their lawyers in an application told the court that the 56-count charge against their clients should be quashed in the interest of justice because the EFCC has no prima facie case against their clients.
Counsel to Professor Grange, Chief Alex Iziyon, said the EFCC has no proof to show that his client was guilty of the allegations against her. He said the commission was only using the press by feeding them with fake information about how the accused persons allegedly indulged in the said act. 'If they are sincere, the case is in the court. They should allow the court to determine the case," he said.
But the EFCC's counsel, Mr. James Binang, maintained that the commission had overwhelming evidence to prove that the accused persons were guilty as charged.
The commission also presented an application to amend the 56-count charge to include Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello among the accused persons so that they could legally arrest and arraign her before the court for corruption and retention of stolen property.
Justice Salisu Garba adjourned the case to Friday to decide on whether to hear the quash application or the amendment application first.
Specifically, Grange and Aduku were said to have, sometime in December last year dishonestly, received the sum of N10 million and N7 million respectively 'with the knowledge of same being the proceeds of criminal breach of trust, contrary to section 317 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 laws of the federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990."
The court has, however, fixed Friday, May 2, 2008 to decide on their applications.