The former Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godsday Orubebe has been arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, in a six count charge bothering on circumventing the approval of some road projects, under the supervision of his ministry.
Orubebe whose arraignment before Justice Kayode Adeniyi had earlier being stalled, due to a minor accident he had, however did pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read out to him and other accused persons.
He was arraigned alongside Oludare Alaba (an Assistant Director, Ministry of Niger Delta Affiars), Ephraim Zeri (Director of Contracts in Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Limited and the company, named in the six-count charge marked: CR/265/2016, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices an other related offences Commission (ICPC).
Amongst other allegations, Orubebe was alleged to have sometime in September 2015 made false statement to officers of the ICPC, Eric Anona, Isiona Okolo and Bukar Galadima in the course of their official duty, when he informed them in writing respecting the contract for the dualization of Eket Urban Road that the decision to rehabilitate instead of dualisation was taken when he had left office as a minister, knowing that the information was false.
He was alleged to have used his position as minister to confer an unfair advantage upon Gitto Costruzioni Generali (Nig.) Ltd by circumventing the approval of the Federal Executive Council respecting the contract for the dualization of the Eket-Oron Road when he took a decision to rehabilitate the road contrary to the award letter reference No. WR14522/Vol. 1/55 dated 28/09/2006 as approved by the Federal Executive Council, an offence contrary to and punishable under the section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.
Upon their non guilty plea, and the application for bail having been duly filed and moved by counsels representing the accused persons, the court granted bail to Orubebe in the sum of N10million, one surety in like sum, with a viable residential address within the jurisdiction of the court, and a valid tax payment receipt in the last three years, on the grounds that he was a former minister.
However, other accused persons were granted bail in the sum of N20million each, one surety in like sum who must be a public officer with the Federal Civil Service and resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
While they are to be remanded in ICPC custody pending when they meet up with the bail conditions, the matter was adjourned to November 10, 2016
It will be recalled that erstwhile minister has a legal battle with the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, for not declaring one of his properties during his tenure, and the judgement on the matter has been slated for September 21, 2016.
The charge reads in part : “That you Oludare Lawrence Alaba (M)sometimes between 2010 and 2014 or thereabout, while being in the employment of the Federal Government of Nigeria, deployed to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, as Assistant Director, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, did direct the spending of the balance of the compensation money totaling the sum of (N1, 965,576,153.46) being meant to compensate owners of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) via a letter reference No EWR/S4/CN5883/COMP/vol.9/429 dated 23/01/2015 as part of the contract sum when you knew that the money was for compensation only and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000.
“That you, Gitto Costruzioni Generali (Nig.) Ltd, through Mr Ephraim Tewolde Zeri, Director Contracts, sometime between 2010 and 2014 or thereabouts within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, cheated the Federal Government of Nigeria of the sum N1,965,576,153.46 being balance of the compensation money of N2, 320,686,826.00 with the knowledge to cause wrongful loss to the Federal Government of Nigeria whose interest in the compensation money meant for owners of the properties marked for demolition in respect of the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) you were bound by the contract for the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) to protect, by returning the said balance to the Federal Government of Nigeria but failed to return same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under the section 323 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory 2006.
“That you, Gitto Costruzioni Generali (Nig.) Ltd the through Mr Ephraim Tewolde Zeri, Director Contracts, sometime between 2010 and 2014 or thereabouts within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being entrusted with the sum of N2,320,686,826.00 to compensate owners of properties marked for demolition in respect of the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) did commit criminal breach of trust by dishonestly misappropriating the sum of N1,965,576,153.46 being balance of the compensation money of N2,320,686,826.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory 2006.
“That you Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe (M), Oludare Lawrence Alaba (M), Mr. Ephraim Tewolde Zeri, Director Contracts and Gitto Costruzioni Generali (Nig.) Ltd,sometimes between 2010 and 2014 or thereabout, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, agreed to deploy the balance of the compensation money of N1, 965,576,153.46 meant for owners of properties marked for demolition in respect of Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) into the contract for the dualisation of the Eket Urban Section of the East-West Road (Section IV) against the purpose for which the money was meant for and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code CAP 532 laws of the Federal Capital Territory 2006”.
