Following the federal government’s move to file charges of false declaration of assets and acceptance of about N70million bribe against him, Godsday Orubebe, has come out to state his side of the story.
The former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, emphatically stated that the allegations against him are false.
According to Vanguard, the four-count charge filed on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Peter Danladi of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) on Thursday, October 8, is currently pending before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
The CCT’s spokesman, Ibraheem Al-hassan, confirmed that a charge was pending against Orubebe before the tribunal, adding that summons was served on the ex-minister on Thursday, October 29, in view of his arraignment on Monday, November 9.
Meanwhile, Orubebe has reacted to the situation, describing the allegations against him as false.
He stated that he did not demand and collect bribe of N70 million from a contractor handling a skill acquisition project for the ministry of Niger Delta while he was in charge, adding that he does not own the plots of lands in Asokoro and Kyame, as alleged by the CCB.
He said immediately he found out his aide collected the money, he ordered him to return the donation to the contractor and also punished him for collecting the donation without his knowledge.
On the land allegedly owned by him in Asokoro and Kyame, Orubebe said he could not have laid claim to the land since he has donated them to other persons.
He said: “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.”
