Alleged N70m bribe: FG to arraign Orubebe

in from Timothy Enietan-Matthews (Nation’s capital) . . .

A former Minister of the Niger Delta Ministry, Elder Godsday Orubebe, is billed to be a guest of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, as the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to arraign him on the 9th of November over charges of alleged false declaration of assets and acceptance of about N70million bribe.

A four-count charge filed on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Peter Danladi of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on October 8 is reportedly pending before the Tribunal.

According to reports, Orubebe being accused, in counts one and two, of his failure to declare his ownership of two properties in Abuja while in counts three and four, he was alleged to have received N70million in bribe from one Pastor (Dr.) Jonathan Alota, whose company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited, the ministry he headed awarded contracts.

Count one reads: “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.

Read also: Orubebe, an illiterate tout -Oshiomhole

Count two: “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.

Count three: “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.

Count four: “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 (₦ 1,799,914,251.88K) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of CCB & T Act.

Confirming the development, CCT’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ibraheem Al-hassan, said summons was served on the ex-minister on October 29 and that he is scheduled to be arraigned on November 9.

Reacting to the issue, Orubebe, who said he will address the media on Saturday, dismissed the allegations as false.

He said he did not demand and collect bribe of N70 million from a contractor handling a skill acquisition project for the ministry when he was minister and does not own the plots of lands in Asokoro and Kyame, as alleged.

He said it was one of his aides who collected the sum of N20 million from the said contractor in aid of a church project in his community without his knowledge.
Orubebe said that when he got wind of the money he quickly ordered his aide to return the donation to the contractor and also punished his PA for collecting the donation without his authorization.
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