OPPOSITION CHASER: FG reduces charges against former minister, Orubebe, to one

THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, withdrew the four-count charge slammed against the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Peter Orubebe, replacing it with a one-count charge. The Federal Government had, in October last year, preferred a four-count charge, bordering on false assets declaration and demanding and collection of bribe of about N 70 million against the former minister. However, at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, counsel for the Federal Government and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Diri, in oral application, withdrew the charge sheet earlier filed against Orubebe and replaced it with an amended one-count charge. He told the court that the application to amend the charge against the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was brought pursuant to section 216 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Orubebe’s counsel, Selekeowei Larry, did not object to the amendment of the charge, reducing it from four to one-count charge and the Tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, consequently struck out the charge filed on October 8, 2015 and replaced it with an amended charge filed on Tuesday before the Tribunal. The amended one-count charge against Orubebe read: “That you, Godsday Peter Orubebe, on or about June 29, 2015, while being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Tribunal, did make a false declaration of assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) when you failed to declare Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure on June 29, 2011) and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 23 ( 2) of the same Act.” Orubebe pleaded not guilty to the single count charge when it was read out to him and the prosecution counsel asked the court for a date to commence trial, adding also that the prosecution intended to call three witnesses to prove the allegation against the former minister. It will be recalled that the Federal Government arraigned the former minister over alleged N70 million bribe and false declaration of assets, to which he pleaded not guilty. He was also alleged to have, while in office, asked for and accepted a bribe of N50 million from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota, for the contract awarded in favour of his company. In the fourth count, Orubebe was alleged to have while being the minister, in 2013, asked for and accepted N20 million from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota as additional bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for 1,799,914,251.88 and thereby, committed an offence contrary to section 10 of CCB & T Act as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1 fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).