NIGERIA'S CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU TO DOCK FORMER MINISTER ELDER ORUBEBE

ELDER GODSDAY ORUBEBE

There are plans to bring the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in Nigeria, Elder Godsday Orubebe before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on November 9, 2015 on charges of false declaration of assets and the receipt of a bribe of N70million.

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is said to have filed a 4 counts charge by Peter Danladi on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as listed below:

Count one: “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.

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.”

The CCT’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ibraheem Al-hassan, has confirmed that charges are pending against Orubebe before the tribunal, he also confirmed that summons were served on the ex-minister on October 29, adding that the tribunal has scheduled November 9, 2015 for Orubebe’s arraignment. The CCB filed the charges on October 8, 2015.

It would be recalled that Elder Orubebe was the center of attention during the collation of the Nigerian presidential election votes by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja venue where he as the agent for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stopped the exercise momentarily citing bias against the PDP candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.