N10 MILLION SCANDAL: IYABO OBASANJO SHUNS SENATE SITTING, AS EFCC SET TO ISSUE WARRANT OF ARREST

•Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello. PHOTO: EMMANUEL OSODI.

Embattled Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello was this morning absent at the Senate as senators began debate on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

This is even as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC is set to issue a warrant of arrest on the former first daughter who has refused to appear to before the anti-graft body for interogation on the alleged N1o Million bribe she collected as a "gift" from the Ministry of Health.

P.M. News observed that the daughter of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, was not at the senate chambers when the debate on the amendment of the constitution started.

Her absence might not be unconnected with the hide-and-seek game between her and officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the N300 million unspent budget scam in the Federal Ministry of Health.

The EFCC had charged Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, former Health Minister, Prof. Adenike Grange and others to an Abuja Federal High Court last week for allegedly misappropriating N300 million unspent budget of the Health Ministry.

EFCC has launched a manhunt for her. As at 12 noon today, an EFCC official confirmed to P.M.News that they were in search of her in order to arrest and drag her to court.

P.M.News gathered that the EFCC had written Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello to appear before it and clear the allegation that she collected N10 million from the N300 million scam in the Federal Ministry of Health.

Already, two former ministers of the ministry, Prof. Adenike Grange and Architect Gabriel Aduku, have been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on the alleged scam.

Obasanjo-Bello was also listed on the charge sheet as one of those who participated in sharing the N300 million unspent budget of the Health Ministry.

The EFCC yesterday made a futile bid to arrest Obasanjo-Bello at her residence in Abuja when some of its officials mounted a four-hour vigil to arrest her.

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An EFCC source told P.M.News this morning that the commission was still on the trail of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and that any time they get the opportunity, she would be arrested and arraigned before the court.

"You know we cannot arrest her in the hallowed chambers of the Senate. We are waiting for an opportunity to get her when she leaves the Senate premises. So far, she has successfully escaped arrest but be rest assured that we will get her and arraign her in court," the EFCC source confided in P.M.News.

National Assembly sources also confirmed to P.M.News this morning that Iyabo has been attending Senate sessions undisturbed, adding that she was sighted at the complex yesterday.

It was learnt that the EFCC had written several letters to Iyabo to appear before it to answer charges bordering on the N300 million scam, but the senator had written to the commission through her lawyer all she knew about the scam.

Meanwhile, the Senate commenced debate on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution this morning.

The motion for the amendment was moved by Senator Teslim Folarin, the Senator Majority Leader.

In moving the motion, he called for the setting up of a joint committee of the National Assembly to ensure an indepth examination of the various agitations and mandate a committee to conduct a public hearing for inputs from states and propose an amendment that will enjoy nationwide support.

He said this will correct the anomalies, loopholes, discrepancies inherent in the constitution.