Trial of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged four count charge of false declaration of assets and acceptance of about N70million bribe, began on Monday in Abuja.
The former minister was directed by Justice Danladi Umar, the chairman of the Tribunal, to enter the accused box immediately he entered the courtroom on Monday morning.
The four counts charge was filed on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) by Peter Danladi of the CCB on October 8, 2015. The four counts were read to the former Minister and he pleaded not guilty to them.
After pleading not guilty to all the counts brought against him, the counsel to the prosecution, Ibrahim Usman, told the tribunal that he would like to request an adjournment since his witnesses were not in court.
The defence counsel, Selekeowe Larry, immediately prayed the tribunal to demand a statement of necessary evidence, according to rule 5 subsection 1, of the rules of the tribunal.
Justice Danladi after listening to the arguments of both counsel, said the matter brought before the tribunal for determination was not for the prosecution counsel to state the evidence but for them to produce the said witnesses to do so.
He, however, took exception to the prosecution’s inability to produce its witnesses.
The request by Mr. Larry to have his client released on bail was not granted, as Mr. Danladi said the tribunal had no reason to discuss his arrest or bail.
He said Mr. Orubebe was expected to always appear before the court on all hearing dates and adjourned till 26 November for definite hearing.