Ex-Minister of Niger Delta arraigned for N1.965B 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.