Alleged N70m bribery: Orubebe’s trial suffers setback

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Federal Government, yesterday, failed to open its case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who is facing corruption charges before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

Orubebe was in the charge, alleged to have falsely declared his assets while in office as a public officer.

Government alleged that he failed to declare his ownership of two choice property in Abuja.

More so, he was accused of collecting bribe of N70 million from one Pastor Jonathan Alota, the owner of a company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited.

The charge against him was initiated by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation .

Government had on November 26, 2015, when the matter came up for trial, applied for an adjournment to enable it to amend the charge against Orubebe.

However, when the matter came up yesterday, another lawyer who appeared for the government, Mr. E.A Orji, told the tribunal that Orubebe’s case-file had been transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, at the Federal Ministry of Justice.