Orubebe denies false assets declaration, N70m bribery charge

Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe, will be arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on November 9, over alleged false declaration of assets and acceptance of about N70million bribe. The four-count charge filed on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Peter Danladi of the CCB on October 8, 2015, is currently pending before the CCT.

CCT’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ibraheem Al-hassan, who confirmed that a charge was pending against Orubebe before the tribunal, said summons was served on the ex-minister on October 29, adding that the tribunal has scheduled his (Orubebe’s) arraignment for November 9. READ ALSO: Oshiomhole is an ingrate, villa sycophant - Orubebe Speaking on the issue, Orubebe, who said he will address the media tomorrow, dismissed the allegations as false. His words: ‘’Former Niger Delta Minister, Elder Godsday Orubeb, has denied allegations of graft leveled against him.

He said he did not demand and collect bribe of N70 million from a contractor handling a skill acquisition project for the ministry when he was minister and does own the plots of lands in Asokoro and Kyame, as alleged. He said it was one of his aides who collected the sum of N20 million from the said contractor in aid of a church project in his community without his knowledge.

Orubebe said that when he got wind of the money he quickly ordered his aide to return the donation to the contractor and also punished his PA for collecting the donation without his authorization.

On the land said to be owned by him in Asokoro and Kyame, the former minister said he could not have laid claim to such plots of land having donated them to other persons. “I cannot lay claim to plots of land I had since donated to other people and moved on in life. “I have an image and integrity to keep and none of the people who know me can say that I have ever collected a bribe from anyone,” the former minister said.