Main PageN70m Bribe: Orubebe Appears In Court, Case Adjourned
Former minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godsday Orubebe, was on Monday, November 9, spotted at a Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja, where he is facing a four-count charge on money laundering.
Premium Times reports that the trial took a dramatic turn after the prosecution counsel failed to produce witnesses against Orubebe.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who is more popular for disrupting the announcement of the 2015 presidential election winner, has been in the news recently over the money laundering allegations.
Ibraheem Al-hassan, head of press and public relations of the CCT, had confirmed that a charge was pending against Orubebe before the tribunal, revealing also that on Thursday, October 29, the summons was served on Orubebe.
The former minister has since denied the allegations, stating that he is being unnecessary framed by the present administration because of his huge support for ousted president, Goodluck Jonathan.
Orubebe also denied ever demanding or collecting bribe throughout his six-year sojourn as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that he was convinced that the CCT was out to frame him given the way it had already begun his ‘trial’ in the media when he had only been served with the summons to appear before the court on November 9, 2015.
According to Vanguard reports, Justice Danladi Umar, the chairman of the Tribunal ordered Orubebe to enter the accused box immediately he entered the courtroom at about 10.43am.
Peter Danladi of the CCB filed the four-count charge on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on October 8, 2015.
The counts include: “That you, Godsday Peter Orubebe, while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29th 2011 did make a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2722 Kyamu District Abuja on assumption of office on 26th September 2007 and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure), on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and punishable under section 23(2) of the CCB & T Act.
“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe, while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29, 2011 did make a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2059 Asokoro district, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of the CCB & T Act, and punishable under section 23 (2) of the CCB & T Act.
“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on or about September 19, 2012 asked for and accepted the sum of fifty million naira from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota, as bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of the CCB & T Act, and punishable under Section 23 (2) of CCB & T Act.
“That you Godsday Orubebe, while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about 2013 asked for and accepted the sum of twenty million naira from one Pastor (Dr.) Jonathan Alota as additional bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company Chemtronics Nigeria Limited for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for the sum of one billion seven hundred and ninety nine million, nine hundred and fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty naira eighty eight kobo only (N1,799,914,251.88K) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of CCB & T Act.”
And after Orubebe had pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Ibrahim Usman, the counsel to the prosecution, told the court that he would like to request an adjournment since his witnesses were not in court while the defence counsel, Selekeowe Larry, asked the tribunal to demand a statement of necessary evidences, according to rule 5 subsection 1, of the rules of the tribunal.
But Danladi said the matter for determination at the court was not for the prosecution counsel to state the evidence but for them to produce the said witnesses to do so, and frowned at the inability of the counsel’s team to produce same.
Mr Larry further request to have Orubebe released on bail was not granted, as the presiding judge said the court had no reason to discuss his arrest or bail, as he (Orubebe) was expected to always appear before the court.
He therefore adjourned the matter till November 26 for a definite hearing.
Premium Times reports that the trial took a dramatic turn after the prosecution counsel failed to produce witnesses against Orubebe.
Elder Godsday Orubebe appears in court on Monday, November 9, 2015, over money laundering charges.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who is more popular for disrupting the announcement of the 2015 presidential election winner, has been in the news recently over the money laundering allegations.
Ibraheem Al-hassan, head of press and public relations of the CCT, had confirmed that a charge was pending against Orubebe before the tribunal, revealing also that on Thursday, October 29, the summons was served on Orubebe.
The former minister has since denied the allegations, stating that he is being unnecessary framed by the present administration because of his huge support for ousted president, Goodluck Jonathan.
Orubebe also denied ever demanding or collecting bribe throughout his six-year sojourn as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that he was convinced that the CCT was out to frame him given the way it had already begun his ‘trial’ in the media when he had only been served with the summons to appear before the court on November 9, 2015.
Godsday Orubebe, a former minister of Niger Delta Affairs in court today. Photo: NAN
Peter Danladi of the CCB filed the four-count charge on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on October 8, 2015.
The counts include: “That you, Godsday Peter Orubebe, while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29th 2011 did make a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2722 Kyamu District Abuja on assumption of office on 26th September 2007 and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure), on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and punishable under section 23(2) of the CCB & T Act.
“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe, while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29, 2011 did make a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2059 Asokoro district, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of the CCB & T Act, and punishable under section 23 (2) of the CCB & T Act.
“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on or about September 19, 2012 asked for and accepted the sum of fifty million naira from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota, as bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of the CCB & T Act, and punishable under Section 23 (2) of CCB & T Act.
Godsday Orubebe and his lead counsel, Seleke Owei Larry (SAN), after the adjournment of the case in Abuja earlier today. Photo: NAN
“That you Godsday Orubebe, while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about 2013 asked for and accepted the sum of twenty million naira from one Pastor (Dr.) Jonathan Alota as additional bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company Chemtronics Nigeria Limited for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for the sum of one billion seven hundred and ninety nine million, nine hundred and fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty naira eighty eight kobo only (N1,799,914,251.88K) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of CCB & T Act.”
And after Orubebe had pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Ibrahim Usman, the counsel to the prosecution, told the court that he would like to request an adjournment since his witnesses were not in court while the defence counsel, Selekeowe Larry, asked the tribunal to demand a statement of necessary evidences, according to rule 5 subsection 1, of the rules of the tribunal.
But Danladi said the matter for determination at the court was not for the prosecution counsel to state the evidence but for them to produce the said witnesses to do so, and frowned at the inability of the counsel’s team to produce same.
Mr Larry further request to have Orubebe released on bail was not granted, as the presiding judge said the court had no reason to discuss his arrest or bail, as he (Orubebe) was expected to always appear before the court.
He therefore adjourned the matter till November 26 for a definite hearing.
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