Court seizes Orubebe’s property for false asset declaration

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, on Tuesday found a former Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godsday Orubebe, guilty of false declaration of asset.

‎The tribunal, chaired by Danladi Umar, declared its judgement, seizing the asset said to have been exempted in Mr. Orubebe’s declaration form, but placed no other penalties against him.

Mr. Orubebe was accused of failing to declare an asset he acquired while in office as minister of the Niger Delta.

The asset, plot 2057, Asokoro district, Abuja was aquired barely a month before the end of his tenure and traced to him, but exempted in his asset declaration form.

Mr. Orubebe said he had put the said asset up for sale before the expiration of his tenure.

But the tribunal found Mr. Orubebe guilty of possession of the said plot, stressing that prosecution proved its case beyond doubts.

In his ruling, Mr. Umar decided that the arguments put forward by the prosecution were valid and thier documents admitted in envidence.

“‎I hereby seize, on behalf of the federal government, the property known as plot 2057.

The federal government had in October last year filed a three-count charge against, Mr. Orubebe but reduced them to one in March, this year.

The former minister is known for his ardent support for former president Goodluck Jonathan.