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.
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