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Nigerian senator hands herself in | Nigerian senator hands herself in |
(10 minutes later) | |
The daughter of Nigeria's former leader has been jailed after handing herself in to a court investigating charges of corruption in the health ministry. | The daughter of Nigeria's former leader has been jailed after handing herself in to a court investigating charges of corruption in the health ministry. |
Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello has been in hiding for several weeks. | |
Two former ministers and nine civil servants face charges of defrauding the budget of 300 million Naira ($2.5m). | Two former ministers and nine civil servants face charges of defrauding the budget of 300 million Naira ($2.5m). |
Mrs Obasanjo-Bello, a serving senator and chairwoman of the health committee, is accused of receiving a kick-back from the ministry. | |
She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody until her bail hearing on Wednesday. | She pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody until her bail hearing on Wednesday. |
The judge agreed she could be held in a police cell rather than in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigating the allegations, after her lawyer said she had been threatened by EFCC agents. | The judge agreed she could be held in a police cell rather than in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigating the allegations, after her lawyer said she had been threatened by EFCC agents. |
'Witch hunt' | 'Witch hunt' |
She has said in the past she believes herself to be the victim of a "witch-hunt". | |
She refused to be interviewed by the EFCC, and told the media she had done nothing wrong. | She refused to be interviewed by the EFCC, and told the media she had done nothing wrong. |
Her committee was given 10 million Naira ($85,000) by the health ministry, the EFCC says. | Her committee was given 10 million Naira ($85,000) by the health ministry, the EFCC says. |
She says the money was to pay for an official visit to Ghana for the committee, allowed under the Senate rules. | She says the money was to pay for an official visit to Ghana for the committee, allowed under the Senate rules. |
The accusations concern money left in the health budget at the end of last year. | The accusations concern money left in the health budget at the end of last year. |
President Umaru Yar'Adua had instructed all ministries to return unspent money to the central bank. | |
But former Health Minister Adenike Grange, and her minister of state Gabriel Aduku, are accused of writing cheques for fake contracts and handing out the money. | |
Accusations | Accusations |
Mr Obasanjo, his family and associates have been the focus of several accusations since he left office. | Mr Obasanjo, his family and associates have been the focus of several accusations since he left office. |
His son-in-law Kenny Martins, the chairman of the Police Equipment Fund, has been interrogated by the EFCC about alleged fraud in his organisation. | |
Nasir el-Rufai, the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has been accused of seizing plots of land in the capital and giving them to Mr Obasanjo. | |
The former president himself has been implicated by a probe into the power sector that concluded his administration funnelled millions of dollars into fake companies. | The former president himself has been implicated by a probe into the power sector that concluded his administration funnelled millions of dollars into fake companies. |
An investigation into the oil industry, which Mr Obasanjo oversaw as minister for petroleum, has also begun. | An investigation into the oil industry, which Mr Obasanjo oversaw as minister for petroleum, has also begun. |