The Independent
Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has today arraigned former Minister
of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, on a six count charge bothering
on circumventing the approval of some road projects while heading the
Ministry.
Orubebe was
arraigned before Justice Kayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital Territory
High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja. He pleaded not guilty to all the
charges when they were read to him and his co-defendants.
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).
Orubebe 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 in respect of 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.
He was alleged to
have among other allegations, sometimes 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 in respect of 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.
It will be recalled
that the 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, with judgement on the matter slated
for September 21, 2016.
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.
The other accused
persons were however, 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.
The matter was
adjourned to November 10, 2016 while they are to be remanded in ICPC
custody pending when they meet up with the bail conditions.
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 then 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".