Former Minister Orubebe Arraigned For N70m Bribery, False Assets Declaration

The Federal Government, through the Code of Conduct Bureau, on Monday arraigned a former Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, on four counts of false assets declaration and bribery.

Orubebe, who was arraigned before the Justice Danladi Umar-led Code of Conduct Tribunal, pleaded not guilty to the four counts preferred against him.

Justice Umar expressed disappointment at the failure of the prosecution to present its witnesses immediately after the arraignment on Monday.

He adjourned till November 26 ‎with warning to the prosecution to come with all their witnesses on the next hearing date.

Orubebe in counts one and two was accused of failure to declare his assets at Plot 2722 Kyamu and Plot 2059 in Asokoro District both in Abuja on assumption of office as minister on September 26, 2007.

In count three, he was accused of accepting N50m bribe from one Pastor Jonathan Alota, on September 19, 2012 for award of contract in favor of his (Alota’s) company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited.

In count four, he allegedly accepted additional N20m bribe from Alota in 2013 for the award of a contract to Chemtronics Nigeria Limited for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for the sum of N1.8bn.

He is said to have committed the offenses of false assets declaration under section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The offense is also said to be contained in paragraph 11(1) & (2) of Part I, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The bribery offenses are said to be contrary to section 10 of Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18 of Part 1 Fifth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

According to Head, Press and Public Relations of the CCT, Mr. Ibraheem Al-hassan, in a statement on Friday, the charges were filed on behalf of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation on October 8.


Punch