An Abuja high court yesterday refused bail to the former Health Minister, Prof Adenike Grange, Minister of State for Health, Dr Yakubu Aduku and ten others.
All the accused persons are standing trial before the high court for alleged conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent sharing of a total N300 million belonging to the Federal Government.
Justice Salisu Garba who turned down their oral request for bail yesterday however renewed his order remanding them in EFCC's custody pending when a formal bail application would be brought and argued on their behalf.
But the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chairperson, Senate Committee for Health, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello who was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday alongside the eleven accused persons was physically absent in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged afresh yesterday that in spite her claim that she was not at large and was ready for her interrogation and trial, two separate invitations had been made to Iyabo to appear before it but that rather than complying, she had refused.
The EFCC however gave indication yesterday that arrangements had been concluded to amend the existing charge against Prof Grange and others in order to accommodate the name of Iyabo on the charge sheet.
But Iyabo yesterday vowed never to physically appear before the court until her application challenging the jurisdiction of the trial high court was heard and that it has the jurisdiction, she would not come.
"The EFCC know where they would find her, she is there in her office at the National Assembly performing her duties.
"We challenge the Commission to produce a copy of the said letter of invitation," he added.
In a notice of preliminary objection, Obasanjo-Bello is asking the court to strike out the count charges against her on the grounds that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the charges against her.
In the alternative she is praying for an order striking out her name from the two of the 56-count charges involving her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] had on Tuesday arraigned Grange, Aduku, and nine others on a 56 counts charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent sharing of over N300 million.
But the name of the daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo, which was mentioned as having partaken in the graft was missing on the list of the accused persons charged to court .
The EFCC had told the court that Iyabo was presently at large and could not be arrested for prosecution but that anywhere and anytime she is found, she would be arrested and promptly brought to justice.
Iyabo, according to count 56 of the bulky charge read to the accused persons yesterday, was alleged to have, between December 2007 and March 2008 in Abuja while serving as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health dishonestly received the sum of N10million belonging to the Federal Government having reason to believe that same was stolen.
Her action is said to have constituted an offence punishable under section 317 of the Penal Code Act Cap 352, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) Abuja.
Other accused persons arraigned over the offence by the anti-graft agency were the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Prof. Simon Ogamdi, the Director of Administration, Dr. H.B. Oyedepo and the Director of Finance, Hanafi Muhammed.
Also arraigned yesterday were a Principal Administrative Officer, Mr. Donald Ekanem and a Principal Transport Officer, Mr. Donatus Iyang.
Others include Olomo J A, Obanla Emmanuel Olatunbosun, Henry Onyeagwalam and Edem Augustine Bassey.
Of the total 57-count charge, Prof Grange's name appeared in fifteen. Her deputy's name also appeared in 15 counts while the name of the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Prof Ogamdi featured in 40 of the 56-count charge.
