With a strong message for President Mohamadu Buhari to halt alleged witch-hunting by some government agencies, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe has dismissed allegations of false declaration of assets and acceptance of a N70 million bribe.
The former Minister is to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on November 9 on a four-count charge of receiving N70 million bribe from a contractor and failure to declare his ownership of two plots of land in Abuja.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Sunday afternoon, Orubebe who said that he personally collected the tribunal’s summons last Friday asserted that he had been wrongly blamed for the disappearance of N600 million that vanished during his successor’s tenure while some government departments have been inviting him for questioning unnecessarily.
“This simply tells me it is an issue of witch-hunt and it is not good for the development of this country,” he stated while urging President Mohammadu Buhari to stop government agencies’ undue harassment of perceived foes.
“If these things are coming out because of the role that I played at the International Conference Centre as an agent of the PDP, then it is unfortunate.
“The role I played that day, I played it diligently to the best of my ability as an agent representing my party and since that day, we have allowed sleeping dogs to lie quietly.
“God has given victory to Buhari, what we expected of him is to use his good office to carry everybody along, to move Nigeria forward.
“It would be sad to use that office that is meant to serve Nigerians, to try to intimidate people with government departments; before now, I had been called to appear before government institutions over things that I know nothing about,” he said.
Addressing the specific allegations for not declaring his ownership of two plots of land, Orubebe who noted that he was only one of a few who ever served Nigeria as Ministers for more than six years stated that government gave him two plots of land which he disposed to take care of his needs as Minister, adding that he cannot declare continued ownership of a gift that he had disposed of.
“Normally, government gives land to ministers, governors and others; the government that I served gave me these plots of land – one in the outskirts of Asokoro and one in Kyami near Abuja.
“ I make bold to tell you that I never saw the land at any point in time; these were not land that I bought with my money, they were given to me by the government and all ministers were given land as had always been the practice.
“They allege that I left government temporarily and didn’t declare the land but the salary of a minister cannot meet up with the needs of a minister in Abuja. So, when you have opportunities like having such land, you do something with it to meet up your needs.
“If you give me a piece of land that ended up not being my own, I do not see any reason why I should still come and declare that I still have such land.
“ I committed no offence there; I did not buy the land, it was government that gave me the land and I used them the way I needed to use them, they were no longer mine,” he stated.
Responding to questions on the N70 million bribe allegation, the former minister said that there is unnecessary confusion over the sum and his alleged role.
According to Orubebe, he asked President Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Bureau of Public Enterprises to revoke about seven shoddily-handled contracts for the construction of Skill Acquisition Centers, only for a Pastor who owned one of such contracts to pay N20 million into the accounts of Glory Christian Sanctuary, an evangelism center built by the ex-minister in his village.
“ I am the founder of Glory Christian Centre for evangelism in my village and while going through their records, I saw that there was N20 million deposit in the account of the centre; I asked them who brought the money and they said it was my private secretary, Akpokome, a civil servant.
“I asked and he told me that it was the pastor that gave him the money; I was so furious and I told him that the same way he collected the money, he should return the money to the man; I told the officers managing the centre to return the money to the account from which the money was sent (into ours) and they returned it.
“I then asked the Permanent Secretary to constitute a committee to investigate the matter – all these happened in 2012- and involved the EFCC.
“It was in the course of the investigation that we realized that the man gave them N50 million and it was out of that N50 million that they sent N20 million to the sanctuary account and shared out the remaining.
“The investigative committee made recommendations and disciplinary actions were taken against him (Akpokome) and all the papers, including account details, were forwarded to the EFCC.
“I never saw any money, he never discussed with me; he (pastor) paid through them and I blew the whistle; a disciplinary committee was set up, disciplinary actions were taken.
“I could not have taken money from someone whose contract I had cancelled, raised an alarm and then do what he alleged. There is a formal letter, including findings from the ministry of Niger Delta to EFCC dated 26th June, 2013,” he said.
Alleging that there is a clear systematic effort to smear his name, Orubebe said that he has never been corrupt, adding that he even deserves some special recognition for his contribution to Nigeria’s economic well-being.
“I found these charges very empty and frivolous; I served this country as a minister for over six years which is a feat on record, that so many people have not gotten from 1960 till date.
“This was the minister, when Nigeria was going down economically in 2009, risked his life to go to the creeks, to sleep in the camps, eat with militant leaders and brought them together. I worked with so many other people and we had the Amnesty Programme that has economically sustained this country to date.
“To get this of treatment from the Nigerian system is unfair; it is not good enough, it is not good for the future of Nigeria
“I want to say categorically that I, Elder Godsday Orubebe was, is and will never be corrupt; as a minister, I never took any bribe from anybody throughout more than six years when I was a minister of the federal government of Nigeria.
“I dare any Nigerian to tell the people of this country if they ever gave me bribe,” he stated.
Tag: CCT
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CCT trial: Orubebe alleges witch-hunt , denies taking bribe
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Asset declaration: Court dismisses Saraki’s appeal against CCT
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, challenging the legality of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try him for alleged false declaration of assets.
The court’s three-man panel led by Adumein Moore dismissed the Senate President’s argument that the CCT has no constitutional jurisdiction to handle the criminal charges preferred against him.
“The CCT is a court of criminal jurisdiction, albeit with limited jurisdiction.
“The immediate question is whether it is a court or not. There is no inherent difference between a court and a tribunal. The only difference is that tribunals in most cases handle special cases.
“The tribunal has power to impose sanctions according to the law. It is a court with specific criminal jurisdiction,” the court said.
On whether the CCT was properly constituted to try Saraki, the court held that the tribunal has the mandate to prosecute him.
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JAMB cautions candidates on registration for 2016 UTME
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday cautioned candidates against patronising unapproved centres while registering for the 2016 all Computer Based Test (CBT) of the UTME.
A statement signed by JAMB’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, in Lagos, said that some candidates were patronising unapproved registration centres.
It said that the candidates were being reminded that JAMB’s registration for the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) should be done only at the board’s approved centres.
“The board hereby wants to state unequivocally that it will not be liable in the event of any irregularity, challenges or inaccessible data arising from the wrong registration.
“JAMB, once again, urges candidates that their registration should be done at its approved centres, to avoid certain challenges such as no results and incomplete results.
“The essence of registration at the approved centres for the candidates is to ensure complete results without any hitches.
“Candidates are also to note that the registration will be ending in January 2016,” it said.
According to the statement, JAMB has put all machinery in place to ensure that next year’s examination records an improvement over the 2015 exercise.
“We are working round the clock to give the country an examination that is malpractice and stress-free; and guarantees the spirit of equality and fairness to all and sundry.
“Be informed that this year’s registration has been done in a way that candidates will have additional provision for more preferred choices, in case they do not get admission in their most preferred choice.
“Candidates are allowed to choose from a list of institutions with more spaces.
“This method is to give candidates a second chance of being admitted, should they miss their most preferred choice.
“The board is only trying to ensure that all available spaces are being utilised,” the statement said.
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Tribunal adjourns Saraki’s trial to November 5
The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday adjourned the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to November 5 and 6.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar.
The Senate President is facing a 13-count charge of false declaration of assets preferred against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
Wednesday’s adjournment followed the pending judgment of the Appeal Court on the trial of Saraki.
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Tribunal stops live coverage of Saraki’s trial
The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, on Wednesday barred live coverage of the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for alleged false asset declaration.
The tribunal’s Assistant Chief Registrar, Mr. Bintu Garba, told reporters that they could not take photographs or record the proceedings live.
Garba said he was acting on Justice Umar’s instructions.
Saraki arrived at the tribunal with 28 senators. His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, was accompanied by four senators.
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Asset declaration: Saraki arrives at tribunal
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has arrived at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in company of 28 senators, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The Senate President is standing trial for alleged false declaration of assets.
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Appeal Court to hear Saraki’s case Oct 16
The Court of Appeal in Abuja said Thursday that it will hear the appeal by Senate President, Bukola Abubakar Saraki on October 16.
SarakI is before the appellate court to challenge the jurisdiction of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try him based on the 13-count charge of false assets declaration filed against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Moore Adumein-led panel of the Court of Appeal, while granting accelerated hearing in the case, promised to render its judgment before Saraki’s next appearance before the CCT on October 21.
Chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar had, on September 22 after Saraki pleaded not guilty to the charge upon his arraignment, fixed October 21 for further proceedings in the case.
Saraki’s lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) urged the appellate court to expeditiously determine his client’s appeal on the ground that time was of the essence.
Saraki has, along with his appeal, filed as application seeking to stay proceedings before the CCT pending the determination of his appeal.
Hearing of the application for stay of proceedings may no longer be necessary in view of the appellate court’s decision to give its judgment in the main appeal before October 21.
Saraki, in his appeal, wants the Court of Appeal to declare that the CCT lacked the jurisdiction to try him based on the charge brought against him. He also wants the court to quash the charge for being incompetent.
Saraki is, in his appeal, raising similar issues earlier canvassed before the CCT, which the tribunal disregarded.
They include that the tribunal was not properly constituted, in that it currently has a member sitting with the Chairman as against the constitutional provision of two members and the Chairman.
He also challenged the competence of the charge on the ground that it was not filed by a substantive Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Saraki equally faulted the process leading to the filing of the charge, arguing that was not confronted with the alleged discrepancies in his declaration, as required by law, before the charge was filed against him.
It is also his contention that since assets declaration is undertaken by every public officer every four years, a charge could not legitimately be filed against based on the declaration he made in 2003.
Named as respondents to the appeal are the Chairman of the CCB, Chairman of the CCT, the Federal Ministry of Justice and an official of the ministry, Muslim Hassan, who endorsed the charge against Saraki.
The Senate President is charged among others, with failure to declare property on Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; failure to declare property on No 1, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2482, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja) and failure to declare property No 3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2481, Cadastral Properties Limited).
He is also accused of claiming to own property on No 42, Gerard Road, Ikoyi and earning N110, 000,000 per annum at a time the property was under construction; failure to declare N375m GTB loan converted to 1.5m Pound Sterling and used to purchase property in London; operating a foreign bank account; transfer of $3.4m from GTB to foreign bank account during his tenure as governor and failure to declare leasehold interest in No. 42, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja.
Saraki was equally accused of making anticipatory asset declaration of a house in Ikoyi in the asset declaration form he submitted to the CCB in 2003.
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Judge withdraws from Saraki’s suit against CCT, others
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday withdrew from a case filed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, against the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Saraki is seeking to retrain the CCT, the Federal Ministry of Justice and others from proceeding with his trial on alleged false declaration of assets.
Justice Mohammed had on September 17 declined to grant Saraki’s prayer for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents.
Instead, the judge ordered that the respondents be put on notice and for them to explain on September 21, why the prayer sought by Saraki should not be granted.
On September 21, the judge, after entertaining argument from parties, elected to hear the substantive suit.
Justice Mohammed said it was more honourable for him to hand the case file back to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
To avert a possible misrepresentation of the day’s proceedings, the judge directed an official of the court to make printed record of the proceedings, signed by the judge, available.
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Saraki’s trial vindictive – Senators
A group of senators on Tuesday expressed support for the embattled President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, over his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
In a statement signed by Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba on behalf of others, the lawmakers said the trial was mischievous, vindictive and politically motivated.
The statement said, “We also want to state here, on behalf of our colleagues, that the Senate remains solidly behind Senator Saraki and we express our unalloyed support for his leadership.
“We are happy that he appeared at the tribunal after availing himself of the opportunity to defend his fundamental human rights.
“We reiterate the fact that he is our choice for the post of Senate President and no politically motivated, mischievous and vindictive trial will change our opinion of him.
“By his appearance at the tribunal, he has demonstrated his firm belief in the rule of law and his respect for our judicial process. We join Dr. Saraki in affirming our commitment to the rule of law, constitutionalism and democracy.
“We only hope the other arms of government will ensure that due process and procedures are followed in this trial and on all other issues.
“It is our belief that at the end of this trial, our democracy, Nigerians and the people will end up as the beneficiaries.”
The group of senators also restated commitment to the programmes and policies of the Buhari administration.
Senators that accompanied Saraki to the tribunal included Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Senators Shaaba Lafiaji; Theodore Orji; Mao Ohuabunwa; Samuel Egwu; Ben Murray-Bruce; Aliyu Wamakko; Gilbert Nnaji; Kabiru Gaya; Tayo Alasoadura; and Samuel Anyanwu.
Others are – Foster Ogola, Sunny Ogborji, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Isa Hamma Missau, Emmanuel Paulker, Obinna Ogba, Kaura Tijani, Clifford Ordia, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Peter Nwaoboshi, Rose Okoh, Mohammed Ohiare, Gershom Bassey and Olaka Nwogu.
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Update: Saraki enters dock, pleads not guilty to charges
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has entered the dock at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.
Saraki is facing a 13-count charge bordering on alleged false declaration of assets.
He entered the dock at exactly 11:25am, after his lawyer failed in his bid, to stop him from taking his pleas at the tribunal.
The Senate President pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case has been adjourned to October 21 by the presiding judge.