2 ministers resign - Over corruption; Yar'Adua asks EFCC to take over investigation - Perm sec, directors, accountants suspended

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 26.03.2008

THE Minister of Health, Professor (Mrs.) Adenike Grange and the Minister of State in the ministry, Mr. Gabriel Adukwu, on Tuesday resigned their appointments over corruption allegation.

It was, however, gathered that President Umaru Yar’Adua may have ordered them to resign so that they would make themselves available for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which may have commenced investigation.

The resignation of Grange and Aduku followed the order by President Umaru Yar’Adua to make themselves available for the corruption charges against them.

A statement from the Presidency on Tuesday announced the resignation of the two ministers. The government also directed the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Ebele Okeke, to place the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Professor Simon Ogamdi, on indefinite suspension.

Also to go on suspension are two directors, an accountant and others, who were alleged to have violated the directive of President Yar’Adua last December not to award late contracts that could not be executed before 2007 ended.

The presidential statement, signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, said, “President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua today accepted the voluntary resignations of the Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange and the Minister of State (Health), Mr. Gabriel Aduku.

“Both ministers are leaving the Federal Executive Council following charges of corruption brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“It is expected that without the burden of their ministerial duties, they will be better placed to respond to the charges against them.

“President Yar’Adua has also ordered the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Engineer Ebele Okeke, to direct that the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Health, Professor Simon Ogamdi, the Director of Administration, Dr. H.B. Oyedepo and the Director of Finance, Hanafi Muhammed, who participated in the subversion of his directive on the return of unspent Budget 2007 funds to the treasury should proceed on immediate suspension in accordance with extant civil service rules pending further disciplinary action by the government.

“Another director, Mr. M.S. Hamid; a chief accountant, Abdulrahaman Ambali; a principal administrative officer, Mr. Donald Ekanem; a principal transport officer, Mr. Donatus Iyang and seven other civil servants in the ministry were also affected by the suspension order.

“The Minister of Labour, Dr. Hassan Muhammad Lawal, is to oversee the affairs of the Ministry of Health until further notice,” the statement added.