BEVERLY HILLS, October 04, (THEWILL) – The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja has pronounced former Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godswill Orubebe, guilty of non-declaration of asset, stating that he failed to declare a property located at Plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja, as his.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar, while handing down this ruling, explained that the testimonies and document presented by the prosecution prove that the former minister is guilty as charged. The judge went on to announce a forfeiture of the said property to the Federal Government.
Orubebe had months ago regretted serving as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that he served Nigeria diligently with the energy at his disposal for six years and four months. He lamented that the payback for his service was the criminal charges brought against him unjustly.
The former Minister had pleaded ‘not guilty’ for the two-count charge of false declaration of assets and another two-counts of bribery when he was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
But in the judgment on Tuesday, the CCT Chairman stated that while the ex-minister claimed that the property was on rent from the federal government, the rejection of the claim by his former landlord to allow him to exercise his right over the property rendered the power of attorney useless.
