Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, on Thursday, said the criminal case instituted against him by the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), over alleged failure to declare his assets in 2011, has made him start regretting serving the country as a minister.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Mr Selekowei Larry, Orubebe told the tribunal that the charges against him were unfounded and uncalled for because the property for which he was arraigned did not belong to him.
Orubebe claimed that he served the country diligently and with energy at his disposal for six years and four months and that the pay back for his service was the criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government unjustly.
“Let me make this point now here before this tribunal that the only regret I have for serving this country is this trial. It is very unfortunate, it is regrettable, it is shameful. I am sad and my heart is heavy because I am put on trial on mere empty land in the bush here in Abuja, officially given to me by the same government I served.
“Nigerians may not know this and I wish to say it out that during the peak of the militancy in the Niger Delta, I slept with the militants in the creek for two weeks, negotiating with them on how to adopt peaceful approach for their demands and at the end, my efforts brought peace to this country and our oil companies have their peace and Nigeria was better for it in the area of security and economy because of my efforts, only to be compensated with this trial that has destabilised me”.
The ex-minister had in his evidence, claimed that he did not declare Plot 2057 in Asokoro district of Abuja because as at the time he was leaving government in 2011, he had sold off the land to pay his house rent.
Orubebe told the tribunal that the land in dispute, was allocated to him by the government but that he sold it to his landlord, Mr Akinwumi Ajibola, for N10 million to offset the two years house rent he owed the landlord.
Meanwhile, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar, has adjourned judgment in the matter till June 30.
Led in evidence by his counsel, Mr Selekowei Larry, Orubebe told the tribunal that the charges against him were unfounded and uncalled for because the property for which he was arraigned did not belong to him.
Orubebe claimed that he served the country diligently and with energy at his disposal for six years and four months and that the pay back for his service was the criminal charges brought against him by the Federal Government unjustly.
“Let me make this point now here before this tribunal that the only regret I have for serving this country is this trial. It is very unfortunate, it is regrettable, it is shameful. I am sad and my heart is heavy because I am put on trial on mere empty land in the bush here in Abuja, officially given to me by the same government I served.
“Nigerians may not know this and I wish to say it out that during the peak of the militancy in the Niger Delta, I slept with the militants in the creek for two weeks, negotiating with them on how to adopt peaceful approach for their demands and at the end, my efforts brought peace to this country and our oil companies have their peace and Nigeria was better for it in the area of security and economy because of my efforts, only to be compensated with this trial that has destabilised me”.
The ex-minister had in his evidence, claimed that he did not declare Plot 2057 in Asokoro district of Abuja because as at the time he was leaving government in 2011, he had sold off the land to pay his house rent.
Orubebe told the tribunal that the land in dispute, was allocated to him by the government but that he sold it to his landlord, Mr Akinwumi Ajibola, for N10 million to offset the two years house rent he owed the landlord.
Meanwhile, the tribunal chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar, has adjourned judgment in the matter till June 30.
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