Godsday Orubebe Reacts to Allegations: I Sacked My Aide who Accepted N20million Donation for Church Project

Seven months after his attempt to disrupt the announcement of the results of the 2015 presidential polls, 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.

During final collation of the 2015 presidential election results in Abuja, Orubebe accused the then Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega of bias and partisanship and disrupted the exercise for several minutes in an attempt to stop Jega’s falsification of results.

According to reports, it took the intervention of then President Goodluck Jonathan for him to back  down for the exercise to be continued and completed leading to the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the polls.

Barring any last minute change, Orubebe will be arraigned before the CCT on November 9.

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.

These ‘re fabrications against me – 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 Orubebe, 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.

• The charges

Count one reads: 

“That you, Godsday Peter Orubebe, while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29th 2011 did make a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2722 Kyamu District Abuja on assumption of office on 26th September 2007 and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure), on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of Part 1, Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and punishable under section 23(2) of the CCB & T Act.

Count two:

“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe, while being a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29, 2011 did make a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare plot 2059 Asokoro district, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under section 15 of the CCB & T Act, and punishable under section 23 (2) of the CCB & T Act.

Count three:

“That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on or about September 19, 2012 asked for and accepted the sum of fifty million naira from one Pastor (Dr) Jonathan Alota, as bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of the CCB & T Act, and punishable under Section 23 (2) of CCB & T Act.

Count four: 

“That you Godsday Orubebe, while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about 2013 asked for and accepted the sum of twenty million naira from one Pastor (Dr.) Jonathan Alota as additional bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company Chemtronics Nigeria Limited for the construction of skill acquisition Centre at Edo State for the sum of one billion seven hundred and ninety nine million, nine hundred and fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty naira eighty eight kobo only (¦ 1,799,914,251.88) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of CCB & T Act.”