ICPC arraigns ex- Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Orubebe & others over alleged N1.965bn fraud

ICPC arraigns ex- Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Orubebe & others over alleged N1.965bn fraud

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences  Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the former Minister of Niger Delta  Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, before a Federal Capital Territory  High Court, sitting in Maitama, for allegedly diverting N1.97 billion  meant for the compensation of owners of properties on Eket Urban section  of the East-West Road in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.

 

Orubebe, who had failed to appear in court on two previous occasions,  is facing a six-count charge before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi,  alongside an Assistant Director with the Ministry of Niger-Delta  Affairs, Mr. Oludare Davis Alaba, and the Director of Contracts, Gitto  Costruzioni Generali Nig. Ltd., Mr. Ephraim Towede Zari.

 

Counsel to ICPC, Ekoi Akpos, said before the court that their  offences contravened Sections 25 (i), (b); 19, 22(5); of the Corrupt  Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Sections 96, 312 and  323 of the Penal Code laws of FCT 2006.

 

Part of the charge reads, “Diverting the sum of N1, 965,576,153.46  out of the sum of N2, 320,686,826.00 initially released by the Federal  Government meant for the compensation of owners of properties on Eket  Urban section of the East- West Road”

 

‘Conferring unfair advantage upon Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nig.  Ltd, by circumventing the approval of the Federal Executive Council  (FEC) for the dualization of the Eket Urban road where the former  Minister`s decision to rehabilitate the road instead of dualization  falls contrary to the award letter No.WR14522/VOL.1/55 dated 28/09/2006  as approved by the FEC; and making false statements to operatives of the  ICPC where he mentioned in his written statement that the decision to  rehabilitate the Eket Urban road was taken after he had left office as  Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs.’ The ex-Minister and the co-accused  pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to them.

Their counsel, F. Zimuan, representing Orubebe, K. Asunogie,  representing Alaba and Kanu Agabi (SAN), representing Zari, who is a  Lebanese, pleaded with the court to grant their clients bail on liberal  terms. Zimuan specifically urged the court to grant Orubebe bail on  self- recognition, having served as a former Minister.

 

The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi admitted the ex-Minister to bail in  the sum of N10 million and a surety who must be resident in Abuja, with  evidence of three years tax clearance.

He further admitted Mr. Alaba to bail in the sum of N20 million and a  surety who must be an employee of the Federal Government not below the  rank of an assistant director.

 

 

The third accused, Mr. Zari was equally granted bail by the judge in  the sum of N20 million and one surety who must be resident in Abuja,  under the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Adeniyi, ruled at the end of the arraignment that all the  accused persons be kept in ICPC custody pending the fulfillment of their  bail applications and then adjourned the case to 10th November, 2016  for hearing.

This post first appeared on Linda Ikeji's Blog. Read the original story here.

Source: ICPC arraigns ex- Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Orubebe & others over alleged N1.965bn fraud