Court Acquits Orubebe Of N1.97bn Contract Fraud
Godsday Orubebe, former Minister of Niger Delta affairs[/caption]
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, acquitted former Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godsday Orubebe of a N1.97 billion contract fraud.
The six count charges, which was filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, was dismissed on Tuesday, April 4, by presiding judge of the Apo court, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi.
The charge was withdrawn after the ICPC chairman got a letter from Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, with reference number DPPA/MNDA/345/16, confirming that the N1,965,576,153.46, which Orubebe allegedly diverted, “has not been expended, but is awaiting further contract decisions and directives from the ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs”.
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The court had earlier fixed a date for the anti-graft agency to produce its witnesses in court to establish that Orubebe, who served under former president Goodluck Jonathan, diverted funds meant for the compensation of owners of properties on Eket urban section of the East-West Road in Eket, Akwa Ibom state.
“In view of the above, the basis for the prosecution of the accused persons for misappropriation does not exist and thus, further prosecution cannot be justified,” the letter which was signed by the director of public prosecution and dated December 16, 2016, read.
Orubebe was standing trial alongside the Assistant Director at the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs, Oludare Davis Alaba, and the Director of Contracts, Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nig. Ltd., Ephraim Towede Zari.
