Conduct Tribunal adjourns to 30th June for judgment of case against ex-Minister

At the resumed hearing in Abuja , the Code of Conduct Tribunal adjourned to 30^th June, 2016 for judgment on alleged false asset declaration against ex- Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe.

The adjournment was made on Thursday when the two man panel, chaired by Danladi Yakubu Umar, listens to the accused person, defending himself during a cross-examination, led by his defence counsel, Mr. Selekowei Larry (SAN), he insisted that the said property in contention was never his at the time of his exist from federal executive council in 2011.

The former minister elder Orubebe, maintained that he did not declared Plot 2057 in Asokoro District of Abuja, because as at that time he was living government in 2011, he had sold off the land to pay debt of his house rent of two years.

He added ‘‘it would have been criminal for me to claimed ownership of the property I had sold off and Certificate of Occupancy handed over to the buyer before I left office’’, he said.

Elder Orubebe, said in emotional tune that he had respect for government and its polices; ‘‘if the Code of Conduct Bureau had invited me for clarifications on my asset forms, I would have honored them, because it is simple thing to do and because my conscience is clear’’, he said.

He however asked the Tribunal to dismiss the charge against him because he had not breached any law as far as the property in dispute is concerned.

Another witness of the former Minister, who, incidentally was his former landlord, Barr. Ajibola Akinwomi, confirmed to the Tribunal that Orubebe was his tenant at Drive 2, House 3, Minister’s Quarters, Mabushi, Abuja, and that the tenant was indebted to the tune of =N=10 million for two years house rent.

Mr Akinwomi, informed the tribunal that Orubebe parted with the empty land allocated to him by the government he served in lieu of the debt and the Certificate of    Occupancy handed to him at the end of the transaction.

The lead prosecution counsel and Director Public Prosecution of the Federation,   Muhammad Diri, made reference to the court that while cross-examining the DW1 he  the witness claimed he did not register the Power of Attorney and the Deed of Assignment because what he bought was an empty land in the bush that cannot be registered at that time.

Head, Press & Public relations.

CCT HQ,

Abuja .