Nigerian Government Drops Corruption Charges Against Ex-Minister Orubebe And They Gave No Reasons

The Federal Government has amended the ?charges preferred against a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Mohammed Diri, withdrew the two-count charge of non-declaration of assets and bribe for contracts to the tune of 70 million Naira.

Mr Diri gave no reason for the withdrawal of the initial charge.

However, with no objection to the new charge by counsel to Mr Orubebe, the Tribunal allowed the switch and struck out the initial charge filed against him on October 8, 2015.

The former minister entered a not-guilty plea when the charge was read to him.

The trial has now been fixed for April 4, 2016.

Mr Orubebe was arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on four counts of false assets declaration and bribery.

Mr Orubebe was charged by the Code of Conduct Bureau for alleged failure to declare landed property in Kyamu and Asokoro district, both in Abuja, on assumption of office as minister on September 26, 2007.

In the other counts, Mr Orubebe is also facing charges of allegedly accepting bribes totalling 70 million Naira from one Pastor Jonathan Alota for the award of contracts in favour of his company.

The name, Orubebe, became well known in Nigeria after he attempted to stop the 2015 election collation, accusing the electoral body and its boss at that time, Professor Attahiru Jega, of being bias.