Posted by By BEN OKEZIE and MURPHY GANAGANA, Abuja on
Embattled Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello returns to court today after spending two nights in police custody, on remand by an Abuja High Court.
Embattled Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello returns to court today after spending two nights in police custody, on remand by an Abuja High Court.
Iyabo, daughter of immediate past president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the court presided over by Justice Salisu Garba for alleged involvement in the N300 million Health Ministry's unspent budget fund scam.
The senator pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against her, but the judge rejected an oral application for bail made by her counsel, Mr Bankole Akomolafe and ruled that a formal application be brought before him today.
Although the court had ruled that Senator Obasanjo-Bello be remanded in the EFCC custody, an objection by her lawyer that the lawmaker's life would be endangered in the EFCC custody caused the judge to rule that she be detained at the Maitama Police Station.
Daily Sun investigation revealed that the police authorities had to hurriedly clean up the Divisional Crime Officer's office for the senator to serve as detention cell.
The room, where Obasanjo-Bello is detained is close to the office of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). It is without the luxury of a normal bedroom, but a six-inch mattress was made available for her to sleep on. Also by mid-day on Tuesday, a fan and a big generating set had been provided to make the cell more habitable for the senator.
A senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, said because of the ex-president's daughter's status as a senator, she was not kept in the normal police cell with other suspects. Her meals were brought from home but screened before being passed on to her.
During a visit to the detention center on Tuesday, two plain-clothes police women were seen guarding her.
Security at the gate of the police station has been beefed up. Before Senator Obasanjo-Bello was detained at the station, one of the gates was normally opened. But on Tuesday, the two gates were closed with the station guard now headed by a police inspector with four other junior policemen also on duty.
Normally, important personalities drive into the station but they are now made to alight from their vehicles at the gate.
In the morning hours, the embattled senator still had on the dress she wore to the court on Monday, but later in the day, she changed into a light green wrapper skirt with a short sleeve top and a cap to match.
In accordance with detention rule, she had been made to remove her necklace, shoes, earrings and wristwatch.
The lawmaker's black Toyota sports utility vehicle with Lagos registration number MY 456 AAA is parked in the station by the gate.
She appeared unruffled and got busy almost throughout the day, making or receiving calls on her mobile phone or played host to visitors, mostly her senator colleagues.
Visitors to the detained lawmaker were made to identify themselves by filling a note book or providing their complimentary cards, either of which was passed on to her.
She would indicate whether she wanted to see the visitors and if the answer was in the affirmative, she would come out of the cell to the Area Commander's car park to meet them.
She thereafter went in and had talks with the visitors.
One of those who called to see Senator Obasanjo-Bello on Tuesday was Senator Kamardeen Adedibu who was accompanied by another unidentified guest. They came in at 12.45p.m.
Daily Sun reporter overheard her thanking the guests for the visit and assuring them that she was in high spirits.
In a brief chat, Senator Adedibu said he was in solidarity with the embattled lawmaker, adding that she had not done anything wrong.