The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, found former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, guilty of the allegation that he falsely declared his assets in 2007.The tribunal, in its judgement by its Chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, said it was satisfied that Orubebe hid his ownership of Plot 2057 Asokoro District, Abuja. Umar, who maintained that there was merit in the one-count amended charge the Federal Government preferred against Orubebe, held that the said property should be forfeited to the government.

The tribunal noted that though Orubebe claimed that he had already sold the land before he submitted the assets declaration form, the title documents still had his name six years after.

Even though the tribunal confiscated the land from the defendant, it, however, declined to ban him from holding any public office. Meanwhile, Orubebe’s lawyer, Mr. Selekowei Larry, SAN, has vowed to appeal the judgment which he described as a “travesty of justice.” Selekowei said that the verdict was a clear example of “convict him at all cost” syndrome.

The government had in the course of the trial, called only one witness, an official of the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, that testified against Orubebe. On his part, the defendant, who testified for himself, also called a witness before the tribunal. However, mixed reactions, yesterday, trailed the conviction of Orubebe on grounds of false declaration of assets.

Vanguard…..

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