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.
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