The Senate on Wednesday said it would not stand by Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello if she or any member of its Committee on Health was found culpable in the N300m Federal Ministry of Health scam.
The Senate which also denied media reports that Obasanjo-Bello was hiding in the residence of its President, Senator David Mark, said the embattled senator would appear in court when required.
?If Senator Iyabo is found wanting, the senate will not stand by her. We cannot pronounce her guilty until she is duly pronounced guilty by the law court. Let us wait for this matter to run its course,? the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze, said.
Eze, who spoke with journalists in Abuja added, ?When Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello is required to be present in court, she will be present. I can assure you on that. The question on her location is even more suspicious. Why do you want to know where she is?
?The matter is beyond all of us. It has been taken to court. The day Senator Iyabo is to appear in court, she will appear. Senator Iyabo has made more than one visit to EFCC.?
On the report that Obasanjo-Bello was taking refuge in Mark?s residence, Eze said ?We are highly embarrassed by some of the media reports today (Wednesday). It is not true that Iyabo is hiding in Mark?s house.
?There is no need for the Senate President to harbour anybody in his house. Anybody who has such evidence should come forward.?
The committee chairman said under the rule of law, people could not be pronounced guilty until a court had so declared.
He argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lacked the powers to pronounce Obasanjo-Bello guilty before trial.
Also on Wednesday, the Senate asked the Federal Government to issue a travel advisory to Nigerians travelling to the South Africa.
The request followed a motion sponsored by Senator Grace Bent and nine others. Bent said unprovoked attacks on Nigerians in South Africa were the reason for the motion.
Senator Anthony Manzo, one time Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, said the motion was not aimed at precipitating a crisis between Nigeria and South Africa, but to draw the attention of government to the plight of Nigerians.
